DreamWorks Studios Acquires Feature Film Rights to the Novel “Shadow and Bone”

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DreamWorks Studios has acquired the feature film rights to Leigh Bardugo’s debut novel “Shadow and Bone,” it was announced today by Holly Bario, President of Production at the studio. The young adult fantasy was published in June 2012 by Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, and is the first in a planned three book series, called the Grisha Trilogy. David Heyman, who produced the Harry Potter films, will produce along with "Up in the Air" producer Jeffrey Clifford.

“’Shadow and Bone’ is a riveting and wholly original adventure set in a breathtakingly imaginative world. I am thrilled to be working with the DreamWorks team and incredibly grateful to Leigh Bardugo for giving us the opportunity to bring her work to the screen.”

In “Shadow and Bone,” a young woman must learn to control her newly discovered power in order to save her country from the Shadow Fold, a creature-filled darkness that threatens to overrun the land.

Said Holly Bario, “At DreamWorks, we are always looking for great stories, and with Leigh’s ‘Shadow and Bone’ we found not just a fantastic story, but one set in a mystical and fascinating world that will translate well to the big screen. We are excited to begin adapting this book and look forward to working with David Heyman who has unparalleled proven success in this genre.”

Said Leigh Bardugo, “I can't think of a better home for ‘Shadow and Bone.’ From moment one, I knew the story would be in great hands, and I'm truly thrilled."

Said David Heyman, “’Shadow and Bone’ is a riveting and wholly original adventure set in a breathtakingly imaginative world. I am thrilled to be working with the DreamWorks team and incredibly grateful to Leigh Bardugo for giving us the opportunity to bring her work to the screen.”

“Shadow and Bone” debuted on the New York Times’ Best Sellers list with Bardugo being one of the few first-time authors to make that list this year. The book has been selling consistently since its June 5th publishing date and Macmillan recently went back for a third printing at the end of July. Amazon also selected “Shadow and Bone” as both an adult and children’s Book of the Month pick and is the only title to have that distinction.

Internationally, the book was released simultaneously in the United Kingdom with ten more territories scheduled for release over the next year. The next book in the series, “Siege and Storm,” is scheduled for release in June 2013 with the third installment coming in summer 2014.

Bardugo is repped by Joanna Volpe and Pouya Shahbazian at New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc. and Melissa Rogal at Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler & Feldman, Inc.

About DreamWorks Studios

DreamWorks Studios is a motion picture company formed in 2009 and led by Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider in partnership with The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. The company’s recent releases include “Real Steel,” starring Hugh Jackman and directed by Shawn Levy, Steven Spielberg’s “War Horse,” based on Michael Morpurgo’s award-winning book and was nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture, and “The Help,” which resonated with audiences around the country and earned over $200 million at the box office and received four Academy Award nominations with Octavia Spencer winning one for Best Supporting Actress. Its upcoming releases include Spielberg’s “Lincoln” starring Daniel Day-Lewis.

DreamWorks Studios can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DreamWorksStudios and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/dw_studios.

About Leigh Bardugo

Leigh Bardugo was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Los Angeles, and graduated from Yale University. These days, she lives in Hollywood, where she indulges her fondness for glamour, ghouls, and costuming in her other life as a makeup artist. Occasionally, she can be heard singing with her band, Captain Automatic. Read more about Leigh and the world of the Grisha at www.leighbardugo.com.