Sony Pictures has acquired the movie rights to Cori McCarthy’s forthcoming novel “Breaking Sky,” which will be produced by Barry Josephson (“Bones”), TheWrap has learned.
Set in the year 2048 with America locked in a cold war, “Breaking Sky” follows Chase Harcourt (call sign “Nyx”), who’s one of only two daredevil pilots chosen to fly an experimental “Streaker” jet, which serves as the country’s best hope of victory.
Sony executives Michael De Luca and Eric Fineman will oversee the project for the studio, while Imran Siddiq and Elizabeth Bassin will shepherd the project for Josephson Entertainment.
Sourcebooks Fire will publish the novel on March 10. In its review of “Breaking Sky,” Kirkus Reviews called the book “quite possibly the next Big Thing,” while Thomas E. Sniegoski, the bestselling author of the “Fallen” series, deemed it a “non-stop thrill ride filled with strong and sympathetic characters.”
Chase Harcourt isn’t the only heroine Sony has high hopes for, as the studio is banking on Chloe Moretz’s portrayal of Cassie Sullivan in “The 5th Wave,” as well as live-action “Barbie” movie and a “Ghostbusters” reboot led by Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig.
McCarthy is the author of “The Color of Rain,” a young adult space thriller published by Running Press in 2013. Her novel in verse, “Name Me America,” won the Middle Grade category for the 2014 Katherine Paterson Prize. Her third YA novel, “You Were Here,” will be published by Sourcebooks in the spring of 2016.
Josephson currently serves as an executive producer on Fox’s “Bones” and AMC’s “Turn.” He recently wrapped production on the Lionsgate comedy “Dirty Grandpa” starring Robert De Niro and Zac Efron, and he’s also developing the Jennifer Lawrence vehicle “The Dive” with James Cameron.
Jason Dravis of the Dravis Agency negotiated the rights deal on behalf of Sarah Davies at Greenhouse Literary Agency.
To get a feel for the story, watch the book trailer for “Breaking Sky” below.