Pan Macmillan acquires self-published Blake Crouch novel

Pan Macmillan has acquired the rights to a previously self-published novel from bestselling US author Blake Crouch, titled Famous.

Crouch is the New York Times bestselling author of Recursion, Upgrade and Dark Matter, all published by Pan Macmillan. The latter has been made into a chart-topping Apple TV series.

Pan Fiction publisher Francesca Pathak acquired the rights to Famous from David Hale Smith and Alexis Hurley at Inkwell Management.

The book is already being adapted for the screen by Chad Hodge, with Zac Efron attached to star in it, Jody Hill directing and Sam Esmail producing.

Pathak said: “Blake Crouch is an absolute genius as anyone who has read his previous novels or indeed watched ’Dark Matter’ will agree. So to be the first traditional publisher to release Famous is a fantastic opportunity.

She adds: “Think American Psycho meets ’Nightcrawler’ and you’ll get a small insight into the world of Lance Dunkquist.”

Crouch added: “Famous is one of the first novels I ever self-published, my love letter/shade letter to Hollywood. To get the opportunity to work with Francesca Pathak and the incredible team at Pan Macmillan to bring this book to my readers is a beautiful surprise and a dream come true.”

Pan Macmillan will publish Famous in hardback in January 2025.