Aurora Rising YA Novel Optioned for TV

MGM Television has optioned the New York Times best-selling YA sci-fi thriller Aurora Rising, written by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff.

Set in the year 2380, Aurora Rising follows Ty Jones, the top cadet of the Aurora Academy, and his unwanted squad of misfits and losers as they slowly realize that the girl they rescued from hundreds of years of cryo-sleep may be the catalyst for a war millions of years in the making.

The book, the first in the Aurora cycle, is slated for publication in ten foreign territories, with more in the works. Published May 7, it is from Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books. Bill Todman, Jr. and Edward Milstein (Married to the Mob, Grandma’s Boy, Ace Ventura) will executive produce with Limor Hakim co-producing for Level 1 Entertainment. Kaufman and Kristoff will serve as consulting producers. MGM Television will produce, and MGM will internationally distribute the series.

Steve Stark, MGM’s president of television production and development, said: “Amie and Jay have created something really special with Aurora Rising. Their novel blends comedy, action and heart seamlessly in such a wonderful way. We are all looking forward to working with them, Bill and the whole creative team at Level 1 to bring this impressive story to television.”

“We are beyond excited to be working with MGM Television, Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff to make this epic space opera into a fantastic television series,” said Todman and Milstein.