Last Week in IP - 10.28.25
All the major deals and news you need to know
Hello again!
Needles are being moved, moves are being made, etc. Take a look at our roundup of last week’s media rights news to make sure you didn’t miss anything important!
As always, let us know if you think we should be tracking anything specific! Gossip is always welcome. Let’s see if we can be half as messy as the comments on Deadline.
Best,
TIP
General Industry Chitchat
Joe Hill, author of the short story that inspired the BLACK PHONE franchise, discusses his next book.
Dick Wolf’s video game company Wolf Games has struck a deal with NBCUniversal to engineer projects based on the company’s IP. Note that Wolf Games is proudly using “ethical generative AI”.
Former Miramax boss Bill Block is launching a micro-drama platform, called GammaTime.
You know how when you want to check the rights to a manga or anything Japanese you have to ask your assistant who knows a guy who knows a guy who knows one of the few guys who has connection in the Japanese publishing industry? Here’s the guy.
New IP Deals and Adaptations
Screenwriter Travis Baun is adapting his short story THE IN-CLAUS for Netflix, with Lord Miller producing. Details beyond its holiday theme are sparse.
Prepare to be SICK! OF! ME! because Netflix is optioning the (WONDERFUL!!) board game Settlers of Catan.
Dermot O’Leary’s TOTO THE NINJA CAT is being adapted for stage. Be sure to tell your favo(u)rite British child.
Netflix and Team Downey are developing WEATHER GIRL, a one-actor play out of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, for A24. Major talent is already attached.
Skybound and Hasbro are teaming up to develop an animated series based on the Energon comics. Despite the toy-based IP, the tone of the show will match the age of its original audience and be more adult.
Tell the nearest SOPRANOS fan that David Chase is developing a miniseries about Project MK Ultra for HBO and watch them fall out of their chair. The project is based on John Lisle’s PROJECT MIND CONTROL: SIDNEY GOTTLIEB, THE CIA, AND THE TRAGEDY OF MK ULTRA.
Famous classical pianist Lang Lang will have his memoir JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES adapted by Chinese director Jiang Wen. (After a partnership with Ron Howard fell through during COVID). Based on the trailer, it looks like the movie will be fun and absurdist - complete with fight scenes! But will it be shown in the US?
I SAW THE TV GLOW’s Jane Schoenbaum is so perfect for the adaptation of Charles Burns’ BLACK HOLE that I’m furious it isn’t out already. The project has a straight to series order at Netflix.
Hasbro is still on a press tour about all their new upcoming projects. Plus details about their KPOP DEMON HUNTERS toy deal that your niece and nephew will be very interested in.
Sky is turning lemons in lemonade with THE SALT PATH scandal. What do you do when the book your latest movie is based on has its veracity called into question? Make a documentary exploring the controversy!
We’re in for a classic PI story with the adaptation of Joshua Hale Fialkov and Noel Tuazon’s graphic novel TUMOR. Big names are already on board.
Horror comic SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN is going to Blumhouse. It seems their eyeing it for a franchise, with both big and small screen adaptations in the works.
Matt Cameron’s 2009 stage play POOR BOY is being developed for film by AMP. The story is a supernatural thriller and already has major stars attached.
Swedish tennis star Björn Borg will have his memoir adapted by indie juggernaut Banjay Entertainment. Banjay has been in the trades quite a bit since Mipcom.
A Spanish-language adaptation of Phillip K. Dick’s THE ETERNAUT is in development at Netflix. I don’t know if this is anyone’s official strategy, but adapting classics seems like a great way to get viewers to try shows from a new branch of your titanic corporation.
Apple and Sam Hargrave are adapting Dark Horse Comics’ LAST FLIGHT OUT. Original author Mark Guggenheim is set to pen the script.
Updates on Buzzy Projects
Egyptian film THE LAST MIRACLE, based on a short story by the late Naguib Mahfouz, is finally unbanned from the Cairo Film Festival. International films fans everywhere are celebrating!
Here’s a handy masterlist of which Colleen Hoover books are being adapted. That’ll free up some time for your assistant.
Speaking of which, here’s the latest on Hoover’s REMINDERS OF HIM.
A much needed update on the CRAZY RICH ASIANS series.
Bridgerton creator Chris Van Dusen is newly on board to helm CALBASAS with Netflix and Kim Kardashian. The project is based on the book IF YOU LIVED HERE YOU’D BE FAMOUS BY NOW by Via Bleidner.
Netflix has officially opened its writers room for its modern adaptation of DANGEROUS LIAISONS.
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