Sony Pictures, SK Global to Adapt Kevin Kwan's Rom-Com 'Sex and Vanity'

Naman Ramachandran Sony Pictures Television has announced an overall development deal with British historian Dan Jones, author of bestsellers such as “The Plantagenets,” “The Hollow Crown” and “The Templars.”The deal will see Jones develop adaptations of his works for option by Sony Pictures Television’s stable of international scripted production companies, including Left Bank Pictures and Eleven.

Jake Kanter International TV EditorSony Pictures Television has signed an exclusive deal with British historian and author Dan Jones to develop TV drama adaptations of his books through Sony companies including Left Bank Pictures and Eleven.Jones’ books have sold more than a million copies around the world and include titles like The Plantagenets and The Templars.

Denise Petski Senior Managing EditorEXCLUSIVE: Sony Pictures Television has acquired the rights to David Henry Sterry’s memoir Master of Ceremonies: A True Story of Love, Murder, Roller Skates & Chippendales, to develop as a series.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentSony Pictures Television has sold its 50% stake in Israel’s Dori TLV to Dori Media. The deal will allow Dori Media Group to fully consolidate its ownership of Dori TLV’s Israeli channels and operations.

Sony Pictures Classics is set to release Michael Covino’s The Climb, which bowed in Cannes, starting in in New York and Los Angeles theaters on Oct. 9.

Anthony D'Alessandro Editorial Director/Box Office EditorUpdate: Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they’re scheduling Michael Covino’s The Climb for a New York City and Los Angeles opening on Oct. 9.

Danielle Turchiano Senior Features Editor, TVBreak out your Xela kickball tee and kiss your Mandonna poster, “Happy Endings” will deliver a virtual reunion that includes the full, original cast performing new scripted material, Variety has learned exclusively.In order to raise money and awareness for Color of Change and José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen supporting Black Lives Matter and COVID-19 relief efforts, Sony Pictures Television (which produced the series that ran for three seasons on

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorJeron Smith, CEO of Unanimous Media — the production company co-founded with NBA star Steph Curry — wants to broker film deals at Sony Pictures Entertainment with underrepresented talent, via a new joint venture.Smith and SPE have formed The Incubation Lab, which Smith describes as a “culture-forward content incubator.” Smith told Variety the goal of the project is to identify nontraditional storytellers, like athletes, musicians, designers, artists, and other

Amanda N'Duka pmc-editorial-managerEXCLUSIVE: Sony Pictures Television has acquired the rights to develop Ravenswood Manor, a camp-horror soap opera based on a live weekly episodic theatre production from writer and comedian Justin Sayre.The show, which ran at Los Angeles’ Celebration Theatre last fall, is set in the small New England town of Ravensport, Maine during the Spring of 1976.

Also Read: 'Crazy Rich Asians' Director Responds to Brenda Song's Claim That She Was 'Not Asian Enough' to AuditionKwan and SK Global’s John Penotti (“Crazy Rich Asians”) are producing the film. Xian Li is the executive in charge for SK Global.

Justin Kroll Film ReporterAfter a fierce bidding war, Sony Pictures and SK Global have acquired the film rights to bestselling author Kevin Kwan’s new novel “Sex and Vanity,” which became an instant New York Times bestseller after its release on June 30.Published by Doubleday, this is Kwan’s first novel since the release of his “Crazy Rich Asians” trilogy, which became a worldwide phenomenon and was adapted into a critically acclaimed and box office hit film earning $240 million

Jake Kanter International TV EditorSony Pictures Television has signed a joint venture deal with France’s Satisfaction Group after the latter acquired 100% of Sony Pictures Television France and its label Starling.Sony will control 20% of the new venture, with the remaining 80% being overseen by Satisfaction, which is run by Arthur Essebag under parent Arthur World Participation Group, and makes daily shows for France’s six main networks.The French company has also secured exclusive access to

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentSatisfaction Group, Arthur Essebag’s thriving Paris-based production company specializing in non-scripted shows, has acquired 100% of Sony Pictures Television France and its label Starling, creating an exclusive joint venture called Satisfy.Under the deal, Sony Pictures Television has acquired 20% of Satisfaction Group, and will be in charge of the international distribution of the company’s formats, some of which are among France’s highest-rated

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentEuropean pay-TV operator Sky and Sony Pictures Television have agreed a new long-term partnership across the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Italy, Austria and Switzerland.The deal includes a multi-year extension across all markets to the exclusive first pay window, and access to Sony’s film library, and extends to all of Sky’s transactional services across its markets.

Jake Kanter International TV EditorSky and Sony Pictures Television have signed a new “long-term” partnership that will give the Comcast-owned pay-TV operator access to Sony’s movies across the UK and Ireland, Germany, Italy, Austria and Switzerland.The deal builds on an agreement signed in 2016 and means new Sony Pictures Entertainment releases, including Jumanji: The Next Level, Little Women and Bad Boys For Life, will be carried by Sky Cinema.

Mike Fleming Jr Co-Editor-in-Chief, FilmBREAKING: Brad Pitt is set to star in Bullet Train, the Sony Pictures action movie that just got as director David Leitch, the helmer of Deadpool 2 and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw. Zak Olkewicz wrote the script, based on the Japanese novel Maria Beetle by Kotaro Isaka.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterChris Parnell is leaving Sony Pictures Television Studios, where he most recently served as co-president alongside Jason Clodfelter.Parnell will join Apple TV Plus in a senior programming role on the domestic development team, reporting to Matt Cherniss, Apple’s head of scripted development and current programming.

Sony Pictures TV studios co-president Chris Parnell is leaving to join Apple as a senior programming executive.Parnell will join Apple TV later this month. He leaves Sony after 16 years.