James Patterson and Amazon MGM Studios might just be one another’s match made in heaven. Today, Deadline announced that the author has paired with the studio for another project, with the duo’s series, Cross, now in the rearview. The company struck a deal with Patterson and his co-scribe, Duane Swierczynski, to bring their upcoming book Billion-Dollar Ransom to feature-length form. Joining the efforts to adapt the book will be Academy Award-winning writer Stephen Gaghan, who, in the past, has penned favorites like Rules of Engagement and Traffic.
At this time, no casting has been announced, but A-list stars like Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, and Aldis Hodge have joined Patterson-centered productions in the past, so it’s likely the film will load up on star power. As for the plot, we can get an idea of the story set to unfold through the book, which is set to hit shelves and online retailers in September through its publisher, Little, Brown and Company. The author’s name has become synonymous with action-heavy thrillers and Billion-Dollar Ransom will be no different. It’s a high-stakes recovery mission for an incredibly rich leading character who has five members of their family kidnapped at the same time from different locations. The price on the quintet’s collective heads? You guessed it — one billion dollars.
Keeping a watchful eye on how Amazon MGM carries out his book in film form, Patterson will produce under his James Patterson Entertainment banner alongside 6th & Idaho’s Matt Reeves and Lynn Harris. Joining them will be executive producers Rafi Crohn for 6th & Idaho as well as James Patterson Entertainment’s Bill Robinson and Patrick Santa. As mentioned, this isn’t Patterson and Amazon MGM Studios’ first rodeo together, as the pair previously brought audiences the pulse-pounding series, Cross, which starred Hodge in the titular role. From its arrival, the title immediately dominated the streamer’s Top 10 chart and was quickly picked up for a second season.
What Else Does James Patterson Have On the Way?
In addition to Season 2 of Cross and the Billion-Dollar Ransom cinematic adaptation, Patterson and his production company have their hands full of exciting projects. James Patterson Entertainment is currently working on a docuseries that will focus on the tragic murders of four University of Idaho students back in 2022. The case continues to captivate the country with the ongoing case against prime suspect Bryan Kohberger.
As of right now, Billion-Dollar Ransom doesn’t have a release window, but stay tuned to Collider for more information.
via Collider