Fans of Chuck Palahniuk (Choke, Fight Club) get excited as another one of his novels is being adapted for the big screen, this time it’s a thriller fit just for Bloody-Disgusting! Coming from new production company “New School Media” is Haunted, a chilling tale of survival that is set to be adapted and directed by Koen Mortier, who blew people’s minds with his crazy crime dram EX-DRUMMER. Read on for the details.
Former ICM lit agent Brian Levy has launched a management and production company, New School Media. Levy’s first move under the new banner is optioning the rights to Chuck Palahniuk’s novel “Haunted.”
Koen Mortier will adapt and direct.
“Haunted” revolves around a group of characters who answer an ad for a writers retreat and unwittingly end up competing in a “Survivor”-like scenario, where the host withholds heat, power and food. As the storytellers grow more desperate they ruthlessly plot to make themselves the hero of the reality show or film that they expect will be made from their plight.
Palahniuk, author of nine novels, is popular with Hollywood filmmakers. His books “Fight Club” and “Choke” have been made into films, while “Invisible Monsters” and “Survivor” are in development.
Mortier, who also works as a commercial director, made his directorial debut with “Ex-Drummer,” which premiered at last year’s Toronto Film Festival.
Levy’s client list includes Mortier and Andrew Lau, whose “Infernal Affairs” served as the basis for Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed.”
Additionally, New School Media has also inked a first-look deal with ArtFire Films (“George A. Romero’s Diary of the Dead”).