New Regency announced today that the company has preemptively acquired the feature film rights to Emma Berquist’s debut novel Devils Unto Dust, which HarperCollins will publish under its Greenwillow imprint in April 2018. Big Talk Pictures’ Nira Park will produce along with New Regency’s Arnon Milchan. Big Talk’s Rachael Prior will executive produce.
Described as True Grit meets 28 Days Later, Devils Unto Dust tells the story of 17-year-old Daisy Wilcox’s journey through 1870’s West Texas during a Reconstruction period plagued by a deadly virus infecting thousands with a rabies-like disease that turns people into murderous “Shakes.” When Daisy’s father disappears, Daisy hires two Shake-hunters who specialize in killing the infected, and sets off into the terrorscape of the western frontier to find him.
“Very occasionally, you read a piece of material that stops you in your tracks. ‘Devils Unto Dust’ is just such a piece and we’re thrilled Emma’s trusting us with adapting,” said Big Talk founder and producer Nira Park. “Daisy is an utterly compelling heroine – a young woman who does not and cannot give up. The stage Emma has set for her story is distinct and highly evocative. We’re delighted to be partnering with New Regency on this project, who fell for it as fast and hard as we did.”
Sam Hanson will oversee the project for New Regency.
Berquist is a Texas native, and Devils Unto Dust is her first novel.
