‘Illuminae’ film rights sold to US producers

The film rights to Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman’s YA novel Illuminae (A&U) have been sold to Plan B Entertainment—a US production company owned by Brad Pitt—and Warner Bros studio, with Pitt signed on to produce the film.

The rights were acquired from The Kohner Agency acting on behalf of Adams Literary and Greenburger Associates for Kaufman and Kristoff respectively.

Kaufman told Books+Publishing that she and Kristoff are not involved in the making of the film but have been consulted ‘at every step of the process’. ‘This is the right level for us, as we want to leave the filmmaking to those who are experts in that area,’ said Kaufman.

Kaufman added that she and Kristoff are ‘beyond excited’ to work with Plan B and Warner Bros. ‘We know they both understand and believe in the story Illuminae tells … the chance to work with producers and a studio who are excited by those questions is something any author would be over the moon to experience.’

Illuminae is the first book in a dystopian trilogy set aboard refugee spaceships fleeing an intergalactic war. It was published in November 2015 in Australia and overseas, and debuted in the top 10 on the New York Times Young Adult Hardcover chart.

Movies produced by Plan B include Selma, 12 Years a Slave and World War Z.

Category: Local news Rights and acquisitions