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Penguin Random House has signed a two-year, first-look production agreement with Universal Pictures.
Under the agreement, Universal Pictures can adapt any PRH title, across both the US and international divisions, for which motion picture rights are available. Acquisition of film rights for available Penguin Random House content "can only go forward with the participation and cooperation of the authors’ agent". Adaptations can be made from forthcoming titles as well as those already published.
In return, Random House Studio, PRH’s entertainment division, will be a producer on the projects developed and filmed under the agreement, “adding value to authors by working closely with them, and the filmmakers, to translate their works as faithfully as possible to the screen, as well as provide cross-promotional sales opportunities for their books”.
Universal Pictures already has a number of upcoming films based on books published by PRH, including "Unbroken", directed by Angelina Jolie and based on Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillebrand, which is published in the US by Random but in the UK by HarperCollins’ Fourth Estate imprint, and the film adaptation of E L James’ Fifty Shades of Grey (Arrow in the UK and Vintage in the US), which will be released next year.
Peter Gethers, who as president of Random House Studio will oversee the deal, said: “This new partnership with Universal is an exciting opportunity for Penguin Random House authors, and it represents a greatly expanded scope of projects that Random House Studio will be able to produce, thanks to the strength and quality of our company’s editors and publishers. We’re very pleased to continue our outstanding relationship with the Universal team and eager to work with our authors, the agent community and our publishing colleagues to produce great movies and support the wonderful books from which they stem.”
Peter Cramer, co-president of production at Universal Pictures, said: “Penguin Random House’s vast network of authors offers us the opportunity to explore a wealth of material from new and unique voices around the world.”
The deal augments a nine-year-old co-venture between Random House Studio and Universal’s specialised division Focus Features, which has been renewed to 2016.
It was negotiated by UTA on behalf of Penguin Random House.