Screen Gems has closed a deal to develop a feature film based on the young-adult fantasy series, “Black City,” written by Elizabeth Richards, the company said in a statement Tuesday.
“Black City” will be released next month through Putnam Juvenile, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group.
Screen Gems completed the rights deal for the series based an enthusiastic response from the online community to the book ahead of its publication, and from young adult circles. Screen Gems is looking for writers for the project.
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“Black City” tells the story of a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races run high after a war. Sixteen-year-old Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and fall in love.
“Black City” is Richards’ first novel. Richards is a journalist who spent her early career reviewing video games before becoming a travel writer and editor.
Both the author and title were represented by Ayesha Pande of Ayesha Pande Literary and CAA.