Sony Pictures secures film rights to Taylor’s Malamander

Sony Pictures has secured the film rights for Thomas Taylor’s middle-grade novel Malamander for a “substantial” pre-empt, Walker Books has confirmed.

The production company struck the development rights with Kirsty McLachlan at DGA Ltd.

Taylor signed a six-figure three-book deal for Malamander with Walker last year. Walker paid a six-figure sum for the trilogy and published the first title earlier this year. Rights sold in 12 territories before publication.

Taylor, who created the original cover for J K Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Bloomsbury), also illustrates the series.