20th Century Studios has acquired the film rights to Marc Guggenheim's novella “Persona” following a competitive bidding process.
The acquisition signals a strategic move by the studio to enter the erotic-thriller genre with a high-profile adaptation. By securing a property that sparked a heated auction, the studio aims to capture a specific adult demographic through a prestige cinematic lens.
Reports indicate the deal for the novella reached the seven-figure range [1]. The auction saw multiple bidders competing for the rights to Guggenheim's work, though 20th Century Studios ultimately emerged as the winner.
Paul Feig is attached to direct the project. Feig, known for his work in comedy, will transition to the thriller space to bring the novella's narrative to the screen. The studio pursued the property specifically for its potential as a big-screen adaptation [2].
While the specific plot details of the film have not been released, the source material is characterized as an erotic-thriller. The transition from a novella to a feature film often involves expanding the internal psychological elements of the prose into visual suspense.
Industry analysts said that the seven-figure price tag [1] reflects the current high demand for established intellectual property with built-in narratives. This deal follows a trend of studios investing heavily in literary adaptations to mitigate the risks associated with original screenplays.
“20th Century Studios won a heated auction for the novella 'Persona'”
The acquisition of 'Persona' demonstrates a willingness by major studios to pay a premium for genre-specific literary works. By pairing a director like Paul Feig with an erotic-thriller, 20th Century Studios is attempting to blend mainstream directorial appeal with niche, provocative storytelling to drive box office engagement.
