Since 2022, Paramount Pictures Motion Picture Group co-presidents Daria Cercek and Mike Ireland secured the rights to the trilogy after a competitive bidding war.
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Upon the expiration of Lucasfilm's rights to the series, representatives of Adeyemi took the initiative to market it, which gained interest. At that time, various studios, including Universal, Amazon, and Netflix, were competing for the property, as it was considered to be one of the most significant intellectual properties since The Hunger Games. Insider sources revealed that Paramount's final offer surpassed the others, thanks to several enticing incentives. Not only did they present Adeyemi with a seven-figure guarantee for screenwriting, but they also allowed her to have creative approvals. Additionally, Paramount offered a guaranteed theatrical release, a significant advantage in a market where streaming platforms are willing to pay a premium for exclusive content. The global release aspect of the deal became even more valuable as such guarantees became increasingly rare. The project will be overseen by Mika Pryce, SVP Production, on behalf of the studio.
The final installment in the trilogy, titled "Children of Anguish and Anarchy," is set to be released on June 25, 2024.
For Prince-Bythewood, this project presents another opportunity to immerse herself in a major franchise following her successful contribution to launching The Old Guard series on Netflix. She first gained recognition for her authentic and character-driven work as both a writer and director, including projects such as book-based film "The Secret Life of Bees," "Beyond The Lights," and "Love & Basketball," the latter of which has recently been included in this year's National Film Registry. Her most recent work includes directing the epic feature film "The Woman King" for Sony's Tristar Pictures.
Adeyemi, the author of the series, made an impressive debut with her first novel, "Children of Blood and Bone," which reached the number one spot on the New York Times bestseller list. Its sequel, "Children of Virtue and Vengeance," also achieved the similar success.
Source: Deadline