Antoine Fuqua Developing YA Dystopian Thriller ‘Sky’s End’ For Film

EXCLUSIVE: Antoine Fuqua (Michael) and his Hill District Media will develop and produce Sky’s End, a feature adaptation of the New York Times bestseller from debut author Marc J Gregson.

A YA dystopian thriller published earlier this year by Peachtree Teen, the book watches as exiled teenager Conrad enters the Selection of Twelve Trades to rescue his sister from his murderous uncle and take revenge. Set in a civilization of islands that float above toxic black clouds, Conrad joins an airship crew to battle monsters in the skies while unmasking sinister agents of terror.

A teacher by day, Gregson went viral in a heartwarming video watching him encounter the cover of his debut novel for the first time in front of his students. To date, the video has nearly six million views, one million likes, and 50,000 shares, and this love translated to release week when the book became an instant New York Times bestseller and an American Booksellers Association Kids’ Indie Next Pick.

The first book in a planned trilogy, Sky’s End will be followed up by Among Serpents in early 2025. Kat Samick will produce the feature adaptation for Hill District Media, alongside Justin Bursch and Sam Levine. Bob Higgins will exec produce on behalf of Trustbridge Entertainment, which acquired all dramatic rights to the book from Peachtree Teen, an imprint of Peachtree Publishing Company.

In considering a screen adaptation of Sky’s End, Trustbridge’s President Higgins told Deadline, “Hill District was at the top of our partner wish list. Antoine Fuqua has an unparalleled track record for telling stories with fascinating but flawed heroes, complex relationships, high stakes and, often, big action. It’s a perfect match.”

“The teams at Hill District Media and Trustbridge Entertainment are author focused, and I’m heartened that Marc will be involved in developing the book for the screen,” stated Peachtree’s Subsidiary Rights Director Farah Géhy. “This collaboration will make for an amazing film.”

Added the author, Gregson, “I genuinely cannot wait for readers to see the world of the Skylands—with its horrifying monsters, epic battles, and memorable characters—come to life on the big screen.”

Founded by Fuqua in 1996, Hill District Media has produced such hit movies as The Magnificent Seven, The Equalizer franchise and Brooklyn’s Finest, as well as series like Fox’s medical drama The Resident and Amazon’s The Terminal List. Currently producing Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic Michael for Lionsgate, the company has also recently backed Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Rob Peace and the Fuqua-helmed Emancipation for Apple.

The deal for the rights to Sky’s End was brokered by Géhy of Peachtree Teen, Trustbridge President Higgins, Trustbridge EVP Business Operations Richard Frankie and attorney Deb Lintz of Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole on behalf of the film team. Fuqua is repped by WME, LBI Entertainment and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole; Gregson by Heather Cashman of Storm Literary Agency.