Big Announcement 2! Jennifer Nielsen September 30, 2011

Big Announcement 2!

The general rule in publishing is that when someone makes a really cool public announcement, they’ve probably been sitting on that news for weeks and sometimes longer.

I’ve been sitting on this news for about six months. Based on that, it should be pretty exciting, right? And I will admit, I’m very excited to finally be typing this.

So here it is: THE FALSE PRINCE has been optioned for movie rights by Scholastic Media. Gotham Group made the sale in conjunction with my always amazing agent, Ammi-Joan Paquette of Erin Murphy Literary Agency.

Does this mean it’s going to be a movie now? Um, I can give that a solid answer: “I dunno.” But for the record, I’m totally in favor of it happening. If it helps, I can send the studio homemade brownies or something while they’re reviewing the manuscript (although I’ve tasted my cooking – it probably wouldn’t help).

Over the last few months, I’ve studied a lot about what it means to have an option.

An option gives a production company the right to begin pursuing production (find a director, a studio, a budget – minor details like that). If those factors don’t come together within the contractual time frame, then that’s as far as it goes. A lot of times, this is where the process ends, simply because there are more books optioned than movies that are made.

However, if things do come together, then other terms in the contract start to come into play. They buy the rights for that type of production, which could be anything from television movie of the week to TV series to major studio production. Then the process moves to screenplays, casting, and the all important question – exactly who do I have to schmooze to get to spend a day on set (and how close will my seat be to the catering wagon?)

Stories that tend to get made have to fit a rather strict criteria. Obviously there are exceptions, but generally speaking, the manuscript:

* Should feel different from what’s already been done.

* Needs a concept easy to sum up in one or two sentences (brilliant logline).

* Must have a strong visual potential.

* Should have a three-act structure.

* Must have a wide audience appeal.

* Needs a concept strong enough to balance its budget requirements.

And if the studio can create merchandising for it, well that’s just bonus.

Probably the biggest talk right now for a book’s adaptation into film is Suzanne Collins’ THE HUNGER GAMES. Consider how well her book fits each of those criteria. Based on those above standards, it’s the perfect candidate for a movie adaptation and will undoubtedly be a great box office success.

So, does THE FALSE PRINCE meet that criteria? Obviously that’ll be for the studios to decide. Until then, I’m so entirely grateful just to be where I am. It’s still over six months until the book’s release and there are so many people involved in preparing the book for a successful launch. I cannot give them enough thanks.

And if you’re a movie studio and you just got the manuscript – brownies are on their way…

71 Comments
  • Reply
    September 30, 2011, 12:40 pm

    Jennifer, this is amazing news!! Congratulations and I’m super psyched for you!!

    Jenn Stark/Jennifer McGowan

  • Reply
    September 30, 2011, 12:52 pm

    How exciting, I will keep my fingers crossed for you!

  • Reply
    September 30, 2011, 12:52 pm

    Jennifer, that is WONDERFUL news! Congrats to you. You should feel very honored. That is a piece of news that I don’t know I could have sat on for 6 seconds let alone 6 months. I hope that things go through. I can’t wait to read your books. I found them on Amazon with pre-orders being taken for the April release of “The Flase Prince”.

  • Reply
    September 30, 2011, 12:57 pm

    Thanks Carrie. With close friends and family, I haven’t been good about holding it in at all. But yeah, I couldn’t publicly announce until now. And thanks for looking up the books too!

  • Reply
    September 30, 2011, 1:16 pm

    Wonderful!!!

  • Reply
    September 30, 2011, 1:22 pm

    That’s so exciting!!! Congrats, and I hope it all works out!

  • Reply
    September 30, 2011, 3:30 pm

    I would add that perhaps odds are slightly better since the media arm of your publishing company did the option–it shows that they have company-wide support for the project and are putting a lot of muscle into it. It’s always a crapshoot, but who knows!

  • Reply
    September 30, 2011, 4:57 pm

    that is so awesome! at least you have the option!

  • Reply
    September 30, 2011, 6:32 pm

    Thanks everyone. And thanks, Erin. You’re right that the publisher is supporting this project, and I hope that will translate to other great things in the future.

  • Reply
    September 30, 2011, 7:12 pm

    Terrific news, Jennifer. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

  • Reply
    September 30, 2011, 8:21 pm

    Nice to finally be able to let the cat out of the bag,eh?

    Congratulations.

  • Reply
    October 26, 2011, 3:58 am

    Congratulations! What wonderful news.

    Don’t know if you remember, but I flew in from Cleveland, Ohio to attend a talk you gave at an SCBWI meeting in Salt Lake City last year. I still remember your talk and how impressed I was with all that you shared. I started a ‘list’ of great speakers on the front of my blog – and you are on it.

    Good luck in all your endeavors!

  • Reply
    October 26, 2011, 4:29 am

    Sharron;

    I absolutely remember you – you were a standout to me that evening! What an honor to be on that list on your blog. Thank you for that, and for your kind words here.

  • Reply
    November 23, 2014, 5:04 am

    You visited my school in Stafford, VA last year and I just got around to reading your books, good luck with the movie!

  • Reply
    November 29, 2014, 5:06 pm

    That’s amazing! I hope it goes well.

  • Reply
    December 11, 2014, 1:36 am

    ok… uh, kinda weirded out about that hunger games picture, especially since that would’ve been really bad if that’s what it looked like & people would hate it more than percy Jackson…. anyways, I am so so so hoping that this happens & that it doesn’t look as crappy (sorry sorry my use of language- if you don’t like it)hunger games poster…. okay!

    • Reply
      December 11, 2014, 6:03 am

      Ha! Thanks, Cameron!

      • Reply
        December 15, 2014, 2:03 am

        No, thank YOU Jen. I think it is SO awesome that you re interacting with your fans through this website. Now all I have to do is get J.K. Rowling or Suzanne Collins reply to some of my comments on THEIR websites. Thank you for being here and interacting with all of your fans EVERY SINGLE DAY! I am still freaking out about the FIRST time you replied to me.

        • Reply
          December 15, 2014, 2:39 am

          Ha! Cameron, well if I got as many fan mails as Suzanne Collins or J.K. Rowling, I might not be able to reply. Until then, I’m glad to say hello!

          • December 16, 2014, 2:30 am

            Well, you SHOULD, because I think your books are just as good!

  • Reply
    January 1, 2015, 6:23 am

    YOUR BOOKS ARE EPIC AND GREST PLOT LINE

  • Reply
    January 1, 2015, 11:07 pm

    Loved the book, waiting for the movie.a huge from africa

    • Reply
      January 2, 2015, 2:45 am

      Thank you, Moe! I should know in February if they’re going to make the movie.

  • Reply
    January 2, 2015, 5:12 am

    I’m so excited for you!! I loved your books and I wish you the best of luck for the movie!

    • Reply
      January 2, 2015, 5:14 am

      Thank you, Nikki! I’ll know in mid-February if they’re going to make the movie. Fingers crossed!

  • Reply
    February 20, 2015, 3:51 am

    Since I read the book in fourth grade I wanted a movie. Now that it actually has a chance… !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Pray it all works out. CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Reply
    February 22, 2015, 7:52 pm

    Did you get any info yet??

  • Reply
    February 23, 2015, 9:44 pm

    Fingers Crossed!!!!

  • Reply
    February 23, 2015, 9:47 pm

    Fingers crossed…legs crossed…toes croosed…arms crossed…man it hard to type!!

  • Reply
    February 23, 2015, 11:04 pm

    I am keeping my fingers crossed for a movie! And just so you know I live in Oklahoma and you TOTALLY have my vote for the Sequoyah election!

  • Reply
    February 25, 2015, 8:41 pm

    You should watch this. It’s where I’m from XXX,” and it should be the first video on there. I’m on there, and think you’ll know who I am. Brown…

    • Reply
      March 1, 2015, 2:35 pm

      Hi Aubrey, I edited the link out since this is a public site, but thanks for sending it to me. You’re from a beautiful part of the country. Congrats on making it into this video!

  • Reply
    February 26, 2015, 8:56 pm

    It was made 2013 for the county fair last year.

  • Reply
    March 8, 2015, 5:51 pm

    Anything???

  • Reply
    March 9, 2015, 7:08 pm

    I started Mark of the Thief. So far it’s great!!! I like the part where Nic runs and hides in the crevice, and everyone chasing him passes right by him.

  • Reply
    March 10, 2015, 6:24 pm

    REALLY EXCITED!!! HOPE THERE IS A MOVIE!!!

  • Reply
    March 21, 2015, 6:58 am

    I just woke up from a dream that the false prince was made into a movie, and before I made it to watching it in my dream, I woke up! Now I’m going out of my mind, and want to know, and hope a movie comes out!!!

    • Reply
      March 21, 2015, 12:01 pm

      Ha! Well, I hope you’re the kind of person who has prophetic dreams! I’ll post news when I have it.

  • Reply
    March 24, 2015, 3:27 pm

    WE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOUR BOOKS!!!!!!! POOR IMOGEN!!!!! SHE DIDN’T DIE IN VAIN!!!!!!!!!!! R.I.P. IMOGEN!!!!!!!!!!!! DO YOU KNOW THE CAST?

    • Reply
      March 27, 2015, 1:40 pm

      Aw, Berkley and Kaitlyn, thank you. You’re reading The Shadow Throne right now? Keep reading! No cast news – the movie has not yet been green lit (approved).

  • Reply
    April 13, 2015, 8:42 pm

    Any news on the movie? Waiting for the library to get the second book in (the waiting is driving me nuts!). Love it.

    • Reply
      April 14, 2015, 5:00 am

      Thanks, K.C. – I hope you get a copy of the second book soon! The contract with Paramount was extended another six months so it’ll probably be August before they make any movie decision.

  • Reply
    May 30, 2015, 4:25 pm

    Omg I love the false prince trilogy so much I’ve read it four times!! and I’ve always wanted to be an actress!!! I’ve done a lot a plays and one tv show pilot once and I want to play Imogen soooo bad in the movie! The only problem is I’m only fourteen and i live in Canada 🙁

    • Reply
      June 1, 2015, 4:23 am

      Abby, if the movie is approved, I’ll post on my blog how people can audition. I hope you’ll get a chance!

  • Reply
    June 3, 2015, 5:38 pm

    Omg thats awesome!! Yes please let us know the audition information it would be such a great oppurtunity for me I would like that very much!!!

  • Reply
    August 5, 2015, 10:49 pm

    If you post how people can audition, by any chance can you post how people can get a job on the set of the movie. Especially if their really young and has no prior work experience.

    • Reply
      August 5, 2015, 11:34 pm

      It’s a good question, K, but film jobs tend to be limited to those within the industry, because of union rules. However, if you are interested in breaking into the industry, the best thing you can do at your age is start working stagehand jobs at your local school (if they have a theater program) or to find a community theater.

      • Reply
        August 6, 2015, 5:03 am

        Thank you

  • Reply
    December 9, 2015, 1:35 am

    Have you gotten any news yet about the movie? I just read your series and it’s AMAZING!!!!

    • Reply
      December 9, 2015, 4:24 am

      Thank you, Amelia! No news yet, and probably not until February. Fingers crossed until then!

  • Reply
    December 29, 2015, 7:14 am

    Hopefuly

  • Reply
    February 10, 2016, 1:48 am

    this should be made in to a anime or a cartoon it would be way beather

  • Reply
    February 10, 2016, 1:48 am

    hope it comes out

  • Reply
    May 6, 2016, 12:51 am

    YAY I’m so excited! Please let me know if you have any news, and I’m going to Google it.
    Jennifer, I love the Ascendance Trilogy and I REALLY wish there were more. I literally write more in my head (nowhere even near as good as yours:)

    • Reply
      May 6, 2016, 3:15 am

      Thank you, Audrey. In a perfect world, I’d have time to write all of the stories in my head, including more of the Ascendance Trilogy. But maybe one day I’ll come back to those. In the meantime, I’m glad you have your imagination!

  • Reply
    July 22, 2016, 12:54 pm

    I know his question has probably been asked a lot but no matter where I look I can’t find an answer. Are they having auditions anytime soon?

    • Reply
      July 22, 2016, 2:03 pm

      The movie has not yet been greenlit – they are still working on script revisions. If it does get approved, they will decide on a time for auditions after that, and I will post any information I have on my website. My next movie update will be in late August, though the update will likely be “no news yet.” Keep checking back though!

  • Reply
    May 7, 2019, 11:01 pm

    Hey Jennifer!
    Any new news on the False Prince becoming a movie? I am a teacher and my students love this book (we did a book study) and really want it to be a movie! Thanks for keeping us posted! <3

    • Reply
      May 8, 2019, 12:25 pm

      Nothing I can report – there does seem to be a little positive movement; however, it’s a very slow process and for now, a bit uncertain. But my fingers are crossed!

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