Exclusive Media Options Rights To Stewart O’Nan’s Novel, THE ODDS: A LOVE STORY

Exclusive Media has optioned all rights to award-winning author Stewart O’Nan’s latest novel, The Odds: A Love Story, to develop and produce with Le Grisbi Productions and LBI Entertainment, it was announced today by Exclusive Media Co-Chairmen, Nigel Sinclair and Guy East.

Exclusive Media is producing the feature film project with Julie Yorn of LBI Entertainment, and John Lesher and Christina Liao of Le Grisbi Productions.

THE ODDS: A LOVE STORY, currently being packaged by the producers, is a character driven story about a couple on the verge of bankruptcy and divorce who travel to Niagara Falls, the place of their honeymoon, to gamble what’s left of their life savings and, in the process, rekindle their love for one another.

Matt Jackson will be shepherding the project on behalf of Exclusive Media. The book option was brokered by Sylvie Rabineau of The Rabineau, Wachter, Sanford, and Harris Agency.

“Stewart O’Nan has a unique literary voice and his novels are a perfect balance between humor and reflections on social interactions that seem so relevant today so we couldn’t be happier developing his latest novel into a feature film,” said Matt Jackson. “We are also excited to be working with John Lesher again following our terrific experience with him on END OF WATCH,” he continued.

“I couldn’t be happier to be working with my friend Julie and to be back in business with Exclusive Media on Stewart’s brilliant novel,” said John Lesher.

The Odds: A Love Story was published by Viking in January 2012 to rave reviews in The Los Angeles Times,USA Today, The Washington Post, Salon.com and The Boston Globe among others. It is the 13^th novel by contemporary author Stewart O’Nan whose previous award-winning works include Last Night at the Lobster, A Prayer for the Dying, Everyday People, Emily Alone and Snow Angels, which was adapted for the big screen by writer/director David Gordon Green and released by Warner Independent Pictures in 2008. O’Nan was named one of America’s Best Young Novelists by literary magazine Granta in 1996.

Former Endeavor Partner and Paramount Chief John Lesher previously collaborated with Exclusive Media on the company’s highly anticipated END OF WATCH starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña. Lesher is a producer on the film alongside director David Ayer, and Exclusive Media’s Nigel Sinclair and Matt Jackson, who also financed the film, in association with Emmett/Furla Films. END OF WATCH is set for a wide theatrical release through Open Road Films on September 28^th.

Next up for Le Grisbi is the film BLOOD TIES with producers Alain Attal and Vincent Maraval.  Written and to be directed by Guillaume Canet, the film is set to star Clive Owen, Billy Crudup, Zoë Saldana and Marion Cotillard.  Le Grisbi is developing a number of television shows at HBO as well as several features at major studios, including the thriller SATORI, to be produced with Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson Killoran, and CICERO to be directed by David Yates and star Tom Hardy as Al Capone.

Julie Yorn’s recent producer credits include the Cameron Crowe directed WE BOUGHT A ZOO starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson released by 20^th Century Fox, RED RIDING HOOD starring Amanda Seyfried, Tony Scott’s UNSTOPPABLE starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine and BRIDE WARS starring Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway.

Exclusive Media is a major force in the production and international distribution arena. Recent production titles include the box office hit THE WOMAN IN BLACK starring Daniel Radcliffe currently in theaters nationwide through CBS Films, and George Clooney’s THE IDES OF MARCH produced by Smokehouse Pictures and co-produced by Exclusive Media with Cross Creek Pictures.

In addition to END OF WATCH Exclusive Media’s current production slate also includes Ron Howard’s epic RUSH starring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl and produced with production partners Cross Creek Pictures, Revolution Films, Imagine and Working Title; SO UNDERCOVER starring Miley Cyrus; SNITCH starring Dwayne Johnson and Susan Sarandon in post-production; THE QUIET ONES to be directed by John Pogue, BONESHAKER to be produced with Cross Creek Pictures and the newly announced THE WOMAN IN BLACK: ANGELS OF DEATH, to be produced with Talisman, Cross Creek Pictures and Alliance Films.

Recent titles from Exclusive Media’s documentary film division, Spitfire Pictures, include the Academy Award winning UNDEFEATED currently in release through The Weinstein Company, the Grammy Award winning FOO FIGHTERS: BACK AND FORTH produced in association with Allentown Productions and Martin Scorsese’s award winning GEORGE HARRISON: LIVING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD produced by Martin Scorsese, Nigel Sinclair and Olivia Harrison.