Industry

Entertainment One (eOne) announced that it has entered into a first look deal with acclaimed author James Patterson’s production company, James Patterson Entertainment. The deal will encompass all of television and new media, including scripted and unscripted. eOne will manage worldwide rights and serve as the studio on all projects under the partnership.

The first project announced under the deal is a scripted series adaptation of Patterson’s upcoming book The Noise, a unique thriller surrounding a deadly scientific mystery. Told through the eyes of two young sisters living in the Oregon wilderness and the brilliant doctor trying to save them, the mystery deepens when a destructive force begins to threaten humanity as we know it. The book is set to be released in 2021.

Michael Lombardo, eOne’s President of Global Television stated, “As one of the most iconic and prolific storytellers of our generation whose books offer something for just about everyone, James has captured the hearts and minds of audiences around the world. We are fortunate to partner with James and his entertainment partner Bill Robinson, to expand the Patterson body of work to produce even more memorable content.”

Patterson added, "I look forward to working with a truly independent studio. eOne has a proven appetite for the breadth of material JPE creates, and relationships with the kind of talent and broadcasters we want to work with. We are thrilled to partner with Michael Lombardo and his team as we accelerate our content production across all genres."

James Patterson is the world’s bestselling author and most trusted storyteller. In the last decade, one in seven books sold in the suspense/thriller category were written by Patterson. He has created many enduring fictional characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Michael Bennett, Maximum Ride, Middle School, and I Funny. Among his notable literary collaborations are The President Is Missing, with President Bill Clinton, and the Max Einstein series, produced in partnership with the Albert Einstein Estate. Patterson’s writing career is characterized by a single mission: to prove that there is no such thing as a person who “doesn’t like to read,” only people who haven’t found the right book. He’s given over three million books to schoolkids and the military, donated more than seventy million dollars to support education, and endowed over five thousand college scholarships for teachers. The National Book Foundation recently presented Patterson with the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community, and he is also the recipient of an Edgar Award and six Emmy Awards.