• RELATED STORIES

• Vintage time travels with enhanced e-book

  Vintage Digital has publish...

• MCB buys Walking with Dinosaurs licence

  Macmillan Children's Bo...

• DiCaprio company buys Shining Girls

  Leonardo DiCaprio’s p...

• Kindle Worlds 'could boost properties'

  Some children’s publi...

• Tying in

  There’s an episode of...

TV rights snapped up in Smith trilogy

02.05.12 | Katie Allen

Corona Pictures has acquired the television and film rights to three titles by Wilbur Smith.

The London-based production company bought the rights in Birds of Prey, Monsoon and Blue Horizon, which tell the story of three generations of the Courtney family in 17th-century Africa. It is launching TV production wing Corona Television Limited simultaneously with the deal and intends to develop the books over several series for TV.

Corona producing partners Richard Johns and Rupert Jermyn said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to bring Wilbur’s work to the screen. So many people in so many countries have loved his books, and we now see a great new audience for his stories.”

Jeremy Trevathan, Smith’s publisher at Pan Macmillan, said: “It’s terrific to see that the potential for film and TV drama in Wilbur's fiction is being recognised and we're delighted to be working with Corona to bring the Courtney novels to a new generation whether it be on the small screen or through his fantastic backlist.”

Earlier this year, Reelart Media snapped up film rights in Smith's latest novel Those in Peril, with plans for a 2014 release.

• Corona Pictures
• Katie Allen
• Media
• TV
• Wilbur Smith