“Romeo and Juliet” by Sir Frank Dicksee (1853-1928)
The publishing industry has been buzzing for months about Danish author Anne Fortier’s “Juliet.” In the novel a woman discovers she may be related to the star-crossed lovers who inspired the classic, “Romeo & Juliet.” Today, there are a flurry of reports about Universal Pictures picking up the movie rights for “Juliet.”
Director/producer James Mangold is attached to the project along with his producer wife Cathy Konrad. Mangold and Konrad were involved in the 2007 remake of the western, “3:10 to Yuma,” and are developing the time-travel thriller, “The Archive.”
Last September, “Juliet” sold in a seven figure deal to Ballantine over at Random House. Fortier’s agent Daniel Lazar says the book is that “rare combination of commercial and literary.” The Hollywood Reporter estimates book rights deals for “Juliet” now stand at around 21 with many foreign rights agreements in the six figure range. “Juliet” is set to be published in 2010.
