Sony Pictures has acquired movie rights to former "Saturday Night Live" writer Simon Rich's four-part New Yorker novella "Sell Out" for "This Is the End" filmmakers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg to produce through their Point Grey Pictures banner, TheWrap has learned.
"Sell Out" follows a fictionalized version of Rich as he meets his great-great-grandfather Herschel, who was preserved in brine for 100 years after a pickle factory accident and is baffled by his descendant Simon's lifestyle as a script doctor in hipster-filled Brooklyn.
The New Yorker published "Sell Out" in January, just weeks after the release of Rich's collection of short stories "The Last Girlfriend on Earth." Bendik Kaltenborn provided illustrations for "Sell Out."
Rogen is not attached to star but he will produce with Goldberg and Point Grey's James Weaver, while Rich will executive produce.
Rogen and Goldberg co-wrote and co-directed Sony's apocalyptic comedy "This Is the End," which they also produced with Weaver. The movie has been garnering strong early buzz in advance of its June 14 opening against "Man of Steel."
Point Grey, which produced Universal's upcoming Rogen-Zac Efron comedy "Townies" and Jonathan Levine's well-reviewed dramedy "50/50," is also developing a buddy cop movie for Paramount that would pair Rogen with Kevin Hart, who is also producing with screenwriter Rodney Rothman.
An avid fan of time travel stories, Rich was inspired by Washington Irving's short story "Rip Van Winkle" and Jack Finney's illustrated novel "Time and Again," which director Doug Liman is developing for Lionsgate.
The son of New York Times icon Frank Rich, Simon Rich is a former writer for "Saturday Night Live" who has been writing for Pixar of late. Jason Reitman is developing Rich's novel "Elliot Allagash" under his Right of Way Films banner.
Rogen and Goldberg are represented by UTA and attorney Fred Toczek, while Principal Entertainment LA also reps Rogen. CAA represents Rich.
