EXCLUSIVE: Sony has preemptively closed a deal for movie rights to Grady Hendrix‘s quick story “Ankle Snatcher,” tapping Hendrix to adapt it for the display, sources inform Deadline. Hendrix can be set to provide alongside Escape Artists‘ Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Tony Shaw, in addition to Aperture Leisure‘s Adam Goldworm.
The primary quick story Hendrix has taken to market, after organising quite a few novels and authentic screenplays for adaptation, “Ankle Snatcher” was launched in September 2023 as a part of Amazon Unique Tales’ Creature Function assortment comprised of six authentic tales written by New York Occasions bestselling authors, the others being Joe Hill, Josh Malerman, Paul Tremblay, Jason Mott, and Chandler Baker.
Hendrix’s story follows Marcus, who grew up believing his father killed his mom — then blamed it on the boogeyman below the mattress. At all times depart the lights on, his father warned, or the boogeyman will get you. Marcus nonetheless heeds the superstition, particularly when he invitations his new girlfriend over. Is Marcus haunted by a creature or has he simply inherited his father’s murderous delusions? The night time will inform.
Establishing himself in recent times as a serious voice within the style area, Hendrix is the creator of New York Occasions bestsellers The Southern E book Membership’s Information to Slaying Vampires, which is in growth at HBO; The Last Lady Assist Group, which is in growth at Max with Andy Muschietti directing and Charlize Theron producing together with Double Dream and Aperture; and How you can Promote a Haunted Home, which is in growth at Legendary with James Ashcroft directing and Ghost Home set to provide alongside Aperture.
Hendrix’s different works embrace Horrorstör, which is about up at New Republic with Hendrix adapting, and My Finest Good friend’s Exorcism, which was tailored into an Amazon function, launched in 2022. Up to now, his books have bought greater than 1.5 million copies worldwide.
Coming off of Season 2 of its Peacock anthology Dr. Loss of life, based mostly on the hit Wondery podcast, Escape Artists final yr wrapped up its hit Apple TV+ horror collection Servant, co-produced with M. Evening Shyamalan’s Blinding Edge Photos, which ran for 4 seasons. Up subsequent for the corporate is Netflix’s The Piano Lesson, the following August Wilson adaptation for Denzel Washington and Black, on the heels of the Academy Award winners Ma Rainey’s Black Backside and Fences, which is slated for launch this yr. Different upcoming initiatives embrace an Apple/A24 adaptation of Akira Kurosawa’s crime thriller Excessive and Low, reuniting Washington and director Spike Lee, and Masters of the Universe, which is ramping up at Amazon MGM Studios with Laika’s Travis Knight on board to direct and Mattel additionally set to provide.
Goldworm’s boutique administration and manufacturing firm Aperture Leisure is presently producing survival thriller Thaw at New Line with Evil Lifeless Rise‘s Lee Cronin directing, Hannibal at Netflix with Washington starring and Antoine Fuqua directing, Horrorstör at New Republic, Widmyer & Kolsch’s indie horror The Swallow, and How you can Promote a Haunted Home at Legendary. Goldworm beforehand produced the indie hit My Good friend Dahmer and exec produced the $147M-plus gross Vin Diesel actioner The Final Witch Hunter. At the moment, Aperture can be growing the collection adaptation of Hendrix’s Last Lady Assist Group at Max.
Hendrix is represented by Aperture Leisure, JABberwocky, and Gang, Tyre, Ramer. Goldworm is repped by legal professional Ashley Silver at Brecheen, Feldman, Breimer,
