Grisham's "The Testament" to get movie adaption
Jun 26, 2009
After a decade of saying no, John Grisham has made a movie deal for his 1999 bestselling novel “The Testament.”
Producers Mark Johnson and Hunt Lowry are teaming with 821 Entertainment Group to option the book, with 821’s Eric Geadelmann and Ben Horton taking exec producer credit.
In the novel, a billionaire defies his greedy relatives and leaves his $11 billion fortune to a mysterious illegitimate daughter doing charity work in the Brazilian wetlands. A down-and-out lawyer helps her battle her relatives over the fortune.
The last time Grisham ended a self-imposed moratorium on selling a book to Hollywood, his first novel, “A Time to Kill,” went to Warner Bros. and New Regency in a near-record $6 million deal that led to a 1996 hit movie on which Lowry was a producer.
That was at a time when Grisham’s thrillers were considered “can’t miss” properties. Nobody pays that much for screen rights to books anymore, and Grisham will receive a six-figure option against a bigger payday if “The Testament” goes forward.
He will also have the right to provide creative input, which he didn’t always have in the past — one of the factors that pushed him away from Hollywood until about three years ago, when his fans prodded him to end his self-imposed movie moratorium.
The deal for “The Testament” shows the power of persistence on the part of producer Johnson, who has kept on Grisham and his agent-editor David Gernert for the better part of a decade.
“I’ve been calling them since I read it the first time and felt it had the best of the courthouse stuff that John writes so well, plus this exotic adventure in deepest Brazil,” Johnson said.
Once Johnson joined forces with Grisham’s old friend Lowry, the author said yes. The producers found development financing through 821 Entertainment, the Nashville-based financier-producer that CEO Geadelmann said is in the throes of raising $250 million in equity and debt to finance productions with “heartland appeal.”
Geadelmann, who made a fortune in the health care technology business, said he and his partners can finance production but would prefer to co-finance with a studio, once they have a script that Grisham approves.
“The Testament” becomes one of several Grisham legal thrillers headed for the screen. An adaptation of Grisham’s nonfiction tome “The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town” moved from defunct WIP to WB, with Smokehouse partners George Clooney and Grant Heslov (the picture is stalled pending a lawsuit filed by a subject in the book). Phoenix Pictures continues to forge ahead on “Playing for Pizza,” with a script by J. Mills Goodloe and Adam Shankman directing; and Paramount is developing “The Associate” with Shia LaBeouf and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura.
Comments
I just finished reading The Testament five minutes ago and had the thought that it has to be made into a movie – only because it would reach more people. Grisham has become a favorite of mine since a heart “event” has kept me out of the fast track these last two years. To consider the overwhelming consequences – good and bad- that eleven billion dollars would have on the pure and simple life of the Brazilian indians and other such cultures is staggering and sobering and revealing of the struggle that is within us all. I am pleased that John will have “creative input” – which I know he will carefully wield – much like Nate, who now controls the Phelan trust…
thank you john this book changed my life!
again thank you
sicerly DGR
Please make this happen. I’ve traveled extensively in Brazil and love the country. This would introduce the Pantanal to millions who will never know the beauty of one of the world’s great treasures.
I have read all of Mr. Grisham’s books and was inspired the most by The Testament. Being a graduate of Memphis State and interested in the legal system I can identify with many of his plots he writes about in his works. In my current home town of Sanford, FL, there is a missions organization call New Tribes that participates in projects similar to Rachel in The Testament. Several of these families belong to our church and they definitely live out their faith. Just got finished re-reading The Testament and was inspired again.
I just read The Testament, and I’m really happy to learn that it will become a movie. I’m looking forward to seeing it — great story!
Actually, I was just searching for a movie by this name since I thought it was already made. I read this book in 2008… in one word, excellent! The movie will be great, I hope it comes out soon.
I’ve read all of John Grisham’s work and read The Testament when it first came out. It is not only my favorite Grisham book, it’s in my top ten of lifetime favorite books and I re-read it at least annually. I do very much hope that this movie gets made and am so thankful that Grisham will have script approval.
I read The Testament a while back and one day thought about it becoming a movie. I sat down and wrote a full length movie script based on the novel due to the interest it kept me in. I read the book a total of four times before finally deciding to write the script. It’s sad though, I was a little late in pitching it but still glad it will be seen on the beg screen. I have to say I know what all you fans are talking about in the comments, it is one of his best novels and one of my favorites. Mr. Grisham, keep it up, it was a great read.
I also just finished reading The Testament and it was great. I was on the internet to see if, it had been made into a movie,to find out that’s going to be. I can’t wait to see it!!!!!!!!!
i’m reading the testament right know and i love it its the first real book i have read i’m 17
Obviously, it is one of the best book i’ve ever read in my life. It made me wonder what would happen from one page to other. It is precisely showing the chaseness from dc out-here through the place where the time hardly-ever drags along and lonely with all its indigenous people. Adventour is well-equipped and greatly depicted to the readers imaginations. Well organized so that is one of the good facts that people like about.
I just finished reading The Testament for the fifth time in the last ten years. It is, without a doubt, my favorite novel. I almost hate to see it made into a movie, but I will be there on opening night. I hope the spiritual aspects of the story are left intact. It is, more than anything else, a story of redemption.
I recently finished reading the testament…my
thoughts were…wow this should be a movie!
One of John’s best. Very pleased to learn a movie will be made. Thank you and keep the books coming!
Sincerely,
Chris
I can almost understand Grisham’s long hesitation in making a deal. Please Hollywood, get this one right!
Iv’e read most of Grisham’s books. Testament was great. I can’t wait to see the associate, it was an excellent novel. Testament will make a great movie. I loved the setting in Peru.
is it free???????……
When will The Testament be made into a movie? I’ve been waiting 13 years. And also, all your other books to movies are pending??? when will they all come out? I’ve read them all and look forward to the next novel when I finish the last one.
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