Clearly seeing some major potential, Columbia Pictures has preemptively bought the rights to an adaptation of Where The Devil Hides, a new gothic horror novel by Craig Russell, not due for release until October.
Set in 1930s Czechoslovakia, the story takes place in a castle-top asylum for the criminally insane. It follows a physician who wishes to experiment on Europe’s six most dangerous inmates, known as ‘The Devil’s Six’, using newly acquired techniques. Krystyna Green, publishing director at UK publisher Constable (who acquired two of Russell’s stories last year), called the book a “Gothic masterpiece.”
The U.S. publishing rights to the novel went to Doubleday’s Jason Kaufman, the editor who also picked up Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, also adapted for the screen by Columbia.
Jake Bauman, Sony Pictures’ new VP of literary development in New York, first discovered the book. David Beaubaire and Kira Thompson will oversee for Columbia.
Words: Kevan Farrow (@KevanX)
