Sony Inks YA Development Deal with Komixx

Sony Pictures Television (SPT) and Komixx Entertainment have struck up a multi-project deal to co-develop and co-produce author-based IP for young-adult audiences.

The move marks SPT’s first foray into the young-adult content market. The partnership will cover the development of Komixx’s portfolio of IP optioned from YA authors around the world, including the thriller novel Captured by Kelly Anne Blount and Robert Muchamore’s spy series CHERUB.

The 20×10-minute digital series Captured and 10×45-minute CHERUB will be the first productions developed as part of the deal, alongside the 10×1-hour My Life with the Walter Boys, based on the YA novel from Ali Novak.

Andrew Cole-Bulgin, group CCO and head of film and TV at Komixx Entertainment, said: “We’re at a turning point in the development of new and thrilling content for young adult audiences. Generation Z want to see drama that represents their point of view and comes from a place they can identify with. As a production company, we’ve come to understand the best places to source IP that speaks directly to them. This deal represents a big step forward for both Komixx and Sony Pictures Television in developing the most compelling young adult IP for TV and film, and we’re very excited for the future of the partnership.”

Wayne Garvie, the president of international production at SPT, added: “There is so much rich content in the marketplace written and published by adults and teens themselves. The number of young-adult book titles has more than doubled in the last decade and the popularity of self-publishing sites, like Wattpad, have created a surge in original young-adult content. It’s an excellent time to be adapting these characters and stories for video. We look forward to partnering with the expert team at Komixx on our first venture into this exciting genre.”