From Alliances With Emily Henry and A24 to Splashy ‘BookTok’ Acquisitions, How Lyrical Media Is Writing a New Story in TV, Film and Even Gaming and Comics

variety.com:

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Lyrical Media chief Alex Black got swarmed with “a million emails and messages” on the day it was announced his young production company was teaming with Ryder Picture Company on a film adaptation of Emily Henry‘s best-selling 2024 rom-com “Funny Story,” screen-written by the author herself.

A big get for any studio, the deal was particularly noteworthy for a three-year-old company still establishing itself in Hollywood and going up against the old guard for top titles and talent. “In the meeting, I think we were able to really pitch to Emily that we would be great partners on this project because of our understanding of the material and our ability to make independent movies — not necessarily indie movies — that allows us to just work more nimbly and do what’s best for the project,” Lyrical Media’s vice president of film and TV Natalie Sellers said. “Emily got really excited about and she actually was the one who really wanted to adapt it herself, and we could not have been more excited about that idea.” Sellers says the “Funny Story” script “is coming along truly so well,” but it’s actually just one of many high-profile projects set up at Lyrical, which has its eyes on expanding across film, TV, gaming and comics.

Founded by Black in 2021, Lyrical has released Neon’s “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” (its debut film) and “Bruiser,” its first collaboration with Ryder Picture Company, which landed at Hulu.

Lyrical has since signed a first-look deal with Ryder and is currently producing the A24 films “The Death of Robin Hood,” starring Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer, and “Onslaught,” Adam Wingard’s action thriller starring Adria Arjona.