Spyglass Media Group’s TV Division Options Best-Selling Author Stephen King’s Latest Novel, The Institute, Attaching Emmy Award Winners David E. Kelley to Adapt and Jack Bender to Direct the Limited Series
LOS ANGELES — In a competitive situation, the television division of Spyglass Media Group, LLC (“Spyglass,”) an independent premium content company committed to creating entertainment across all platforms for worldwide audiences, has optioned #1 New York Times’ best-selling author Stephen King’s latest novel The Institute, attaching Emmy Award winners David E. Kelley (“Big Little Lies”) to adapt and executive produce the limited series with Jack Bender ( “Lost”) serving as director and executive producer. The announcement marks the first television acquisition for the premium content company and was made by Lauren Whitney, President of Television for Spyglass.
In addition, Spyglass has set a multi-year first look deal with Bender to develop future projects for Spyglass, overseen by Whitney.
Said Whitney, “Having the opportunity to work on a new and brilliant book by Stephen King is an absolute privilege,” she added, “We are thrilled to collaborate with this dream team, including the incomparable David E. Kelley, and Jack Bender, the architect behind this project, whose extensive directing and executive producing credits speak for themselves. After such a competitive pursuit, we have big plans for ‘The Institute’ here at Spyglass.”
Said King, “I’m delighted to be working with Jack and David, the creative team behind ‘Mr. Mercedes.’ We think alike, and I believe ‘The Institute’ is going to be a great success.”
Said Bender, “I am thrilled to be working with Spyglass Media and couldn’t be more excited that we’ll be starting with Stephen King’s extraordinary new book The Institute. Continuing to work with David Kelley only adds to the brilliance I am surrounded by.”
Said Kelley, “It’s a privilege and a joy to be able to team with Stephen and Jack again. Stephen has written yet another compelling and brilliant book. I cannot wait to jump in.”
The Institute, on sale today, has received stellar early reviews with critics saying, “Stephen King is at his best with The Institute,” (St. Louis Post- Dispatch) and “King wows with the most gut-wrenching tale of kids triumphing over evil since It…Tapping into the minds of the young characters, King creates a sense of menace and intimacy that will have readers spellbound…Not a word is wasted in this meticulously crafted novel, which once again proves why King is the king of horror” (Publisher’s Weekly).
“The Institute” reunites Kelley with Bender who have worked together on the critically acclaimed “Mr. Mercedes,” DirecTV’s Audience Network’s adaptation of King’s Bill Hodges Trilogy that has been renewed for a third season. Kelley’s “Goliath” will debut its third season later this year on Amazon Prime and the second season finale of “Big Little Lies” delivered series high ratings for HBO. Up next, Kelley is developing the limited series “The Undoing,” starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant for HBO, and is writing and executive producing the adaptation of Michael Connelly’s bestseller The Lincoln Lawyer for CBS.
Bender is well known for directing episodes for hit series including “Lost,” “Game of Thrones,” “The Sopranos,” “Mr. Mercedes,” “Under the Dome,” and “Alias.” He is the executive producer to HBO’s upcoming “The Outsider,” based on 2018’s best-selling novel by King and was the executive producer of “Under the Dome,” the CBS series adaptation of King’s 2009 novel.
Spyglass launched as a partnership between Gary Barber and Lantern Entertainment Co-Presidents Andy Mitchell and Milos Brajovic. The company has strategic investment backing from Warner Bros. Pictures, leaders in the motion picture industry; Eagle Pictures, the largest independent distributor in Italy; and Cineworld Group, the second largest theater chain in the world. Spyglass is home to more than 250 film library titles, scripted and unscripted television series, including “Project Runway;” Academy Award winners “The King’s Speech” and “The Artist;” box office hits “Inglourious Basterds,” “Silver Linings Playbook,” “The Hateful Eight,” “Django Unchained” and “Spy Kids,” and genre franchises “Hellraiser” and “Scream.”
King is represented by Paradigm, Bender is represented by UTA and Kelley is represented by attorney Michael Gendler.