With Steven Spielberg prepping a big-budget adaptation of his breakout book “Ready Player One” for a Christmas 2017 release, bestselling author Ernie Cline has just signed a seven-figure deal with Crown Publishing for domestic rights to his untitled third sci-fi novel, TheWrap has learned.
Cline’s second book, “Armada,” also sold in a seven-figure deal to Crown Publishing, which is a division of Penguin Random House. “Armada” just debuted at #4 on the New York Times Best Sellers List.
Just as “Ready Player One” sold to Warner Bros. before Spielberg signed on to direct and “Armada” sold to Universal for seven-figures, Cline’s latest book is expected to have Hollywood movie studios lining up for the rights. The author has been called “the literary answer to Joss Whedon or J.J. Abrams” by one critic, with Mashable hailing Cline’s “nerdy charm.”
“Armada” has made fans of critics and readers alike, having been named Amazon’s Best of the Month in the Science, Fiction & Fantasy category, Amazon’s Best of the Month in the Mystery, Thriller & Suspense category, Apple’s Book of the Month pick, Audible’s Book of the Month pick, Mashable’s Book Club pick and Reddit’s Book Club Inaugural Pick. The book also premiered at #4 on the National Indie Booksellers’ bestseller list.
Cline’s publishing rights are represented by his longtime manager Dan Farah and Yfat Reiss Gendell of Foundry Literary + Media,” while CAA and Farah represent Cline’s film and TV rights and negotiate his screenwriting deals.
Farah is also producing the adaptations of “Ready Player One,” “Armada” and Cline’s new Untitled Sci-Fi Project, as well as MTV’s big-budget adaptation of Terry Brooks’ bestselling fantasy book series “Shannara.”