Andy McDermott’s thriller series snapped up for film

Andy McDermott’s Wilde/Chase action adventure series is to be adapted for film by Brooklyn-based production company Divine Rights Media.

Divine Rights Media bought film rights to the series from Robin Wade of Wade & Co.

Producer Mike Landry, at Divine Rights, and Merrill Lynch’s financing partner and executive producer Derek Jancisin have optioned the rights to the book series with plans to launch and finance an original big-screen action-adventure film franchise, starting with the first novel, The Hunt for Atlantis (Headline). Scriptwriter Aaron Berg is attached to pen the adaptation, agreeing to a seven-figure deal to write and also produce alongside Landry.

The Hunt for Atlantis features Nina Wilde, a young American archaeologist, and ex-SAS bodyguard Eddie Chase who team up with an eccentric billionaire on a race to find the legendary lost city and stop a sinister organisation determined to possess the ancient mystical power that sank it 11,000 years ago. McDermott’s newest instalment is set to publish later this year.

Landry and Berg plan to build McDermott's series into global blockbusters, with a diverse ensemble cast of characters from countries all over the world, Wade said.

The entire series has been published by Headline with thriller number 15, The Resurrection Key, to be published  in September. According to Nielsen BookScan McDermott has sold 553,003 books for £2.93m and rights deals for his titles cover 32 territories worldwide.

McDermott, a former magazine editor, film critic, and journalist, said: "I originally wrote The Hunt For Atlantis to be a blockbuster action-adventure movie in book form, and I’m thrilled it’s now heading towards the big screen for real. When I met the production team in LA, I was absolutely delighted to see how passionate everyone was about bringing Nina Wilde and Eddie Chase to cinemas. I have every confidence that they’re going to create something spectacular, and I can’t wait to see the result."

Wade added: “It’s very satisfying to have at last found ideal partners and an amazing scriptwriter in Hollywood to bring Andy’s stunning thrillers to the silver screen. With a ready audience worldwide and a potential franchise of 15 books we are really looking forward to the ride.”