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Phantom of the Opera to be adapted in ‘multi-book, global deal’ with PRH
LW Entertainment, formerly the Really Useful Group, which manages Andrew Lloyd Webber’s body of work, has entered into a partnership with Penguin Random House (PRH) to expand the Phantom of the Opera franchise into a “new worldwide book publishing programme”.
The programme will launch in autumn 2026 with Our Strange Duet by Erin A Craig, a YA reimagining of the story that will “bring a new voice to Christine Daaé, a central part of the iconic Phantom canon”.
Our Strange Duet is described as “a Christine-forward retelling that gives new insight to Christine’s experience navigating the Paris Opera House. It will serve as the principal and tentpole foray into the expansion of this beloved franchise”.
The novel will be published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, and edited by Wendy Loggia, vice-president and publisher of Delacorte Press. It will be published simultaneously in the UK with PRH Children’s.
Craig, author of House of Salt and Sorrows and House of Roots and Ruin (Rock the Boat), said: “I’m over the moon to announce that I’ve teamed up with LW Entertainment and Delacorte Press to bring you Our Strange Duet, a Phantom of the Opera novel celebrating the 40-year milestone anniversary for the world’s most iconic and sweepingly romantic musical. It’s been the honour of a lifetime to explore the ‘strange affair of The Phantom of the Opera, a mystery never fully explained’ through the eyes of Broadway’s most beloved Gothic heroine.”
The programme, which will span books for all ages, will feature additional titles, including three Little Golden Books and a new coffee-table book from Crown/Ten Speed Press and by Ebury Press in the UK in autumn 2026.
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Carmen McCullough, publisher at Puffin, told The Bookseller: “I’m delighted we’ll be publishing this enormously exciting reimagining in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the show. The Phantom of the Opera has so much that appeals to a YA audience – a deliciously Gothic setting, a bold heroine and of course a powerful and enduring love story. Erin is the perfect writer to take on such an epic story and I can’t wait for a whole new generation of readers to discover a fresh take on this timeless classic."
LW Entertainment has also engaged Justin Leach of Qubic Pictures, co-executive producer on Star Wars: Visions and showrunner of Netflix’s Eden and Leviathan, to explore opportunities for a new Phantom of the Opera anime.
Andrew Lloyd Webber said: “I am thrilled that the final piece of the reorganisation of the Lloyd Webber companies is complete. Our CEO James McKnight, together with Madeleine Lloyd Webber and our chairman, David Chance, has restructured the entire senior management team to reflect the business’ commitment to exploiting its copyrights in the most innovative way.
“To mark this sea change in The Really Useful Group’s story, the company is to be renamed LW Entertainment to represent the broadening of its work across different entertainment fields, whilst bringing it into line with LW Theatres, which has just completed its most successful trading year ever. As usual, every penny of LW Theatres’ profit will be ploughed back into the buildings. LW Entertainment will focus solely on copyright exploitation, with theatrical production handled by Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, building on the success of the acclaimed productions of Starlight Express, Sunset Boulevard and now Evita at the London Palladium. The next major productions will be the Broadway transfer of Cats: The Jellicle Ball and my new musical, The Illusionist.
“In addition, LW Entertainment has licensed the immersive production Masquerade, based on The Phantom of the Opera, currently in early previews in New York. This is part of significant, global plans for the Phantom of the Opera over the coming years across live theatre, film, publishing, music and many other areas.”
