Marsai Martin, Hollywood’s youngest producer, has set up her next project.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Martin is set to produce the film adaptation for Amari and the Night Brothers, the debut novel from B.B. Alston. Other producers include Mandeville Films’ Todd Lieberman and David Hoberman as well as Martin’s father and producing partner Josh Martin through the Martins’ Genius Productions company. Don Cheadle is also on as a producer.
The film was one wildly sought after and only secured by Universal Pictures (where Martin and Genius have a first-look deal) after a bidding war for the rights. So far, the book’s plot has been kept hidden with the publishing date expected to take place in January 2021. According to the report, the few details that are out focus on a Black girl who discovers she has hidden powers. Also, similar to the film adaptation rights, the book itself was subject to an immense publishing rights battle at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair this April, which led to many global territories snapping up the rights for publication. The U.S. publication rights went to Balzer + Bray/Harper after a six-way auction.
The report also lists special tidbit that should give writers of color a boost of inspiration; Alston was able to find his agent thanks to the hashtag #DVPit, described as a “pitch event for un-agented historically marginalized creators only.” The Twitter event was created by literary agent Beth Phelan. You can learn more about the event on Twitter or through the website.
Martin, who was recently seen in Little, also has another film she’s set to star in and produce, StepMonster, on her to-do list.
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Photo: Getty Images for the Hollywood Reporter