A TV series adaptation of Lauren Roberts‘ YA romantasy book “Powerless” is in development from Lyrical Media and “Anyone But You” filmmaker Will Gluck.
“Powerless” follows Paedyn, a cunning street thief from the slums of Ilya trying to make ends meet in a world where a great plague has decimated most of the population, and left the rest with special powers. All those without power were eliminated to preserve the elite, gifted society. Paedyn poses as a psychic to hide her true identity as powerless, until she finds herself thrown into the purging trials – a deadly competition held to showcase the elites’ powers – the one thing Paedyn lacks.
Will Gluck, Madison Jones, and Jacqueline Monetta will produce the “Powerless” series under the Olive Bridge banner, with Lyrical Media’s Alex Black and Natalie Sellers serving as executive producers.
No network or streamer is currently attached to the project.
Published by Simon & Schuster, “Powerless” spent 19 weeks at No. 1 on the New York Times Young Adult Bestseller List and sold over one million copies in its first nine months of publication. The second book in the “Powerless” trilogy series, “Reckless,” debuted in July. Roberts is currently writing the third and final book, “Fearless,” which is set for an April 2025 release.
A favorite of the “BookTok” community — TikTok’s massive base of readers and publishing industry influencers — the “Powerless” series has sold more than 2.5 million copies globally and is being translated into 27 languages.
“I am thrilled by the prospect of seeing my dear characters come to life,” Roberts said. “‘Powerless’ is a story I have envisioned in my mind for years, dreaming of the day I would watch it unfold on screen. I truly cannot wait to work with such capable teams to accomplish this dream.”
Gluck’s Olive Bridge Entertainment has produced “Anyone But You,” “Easy A,” “Friends with Benefits” and the “Peter Rabbit” franchise, as well as Disney+ musical docuseries “Encore!,” Netflix’s adult animated comedy “Chicago Party Aunt” on Netflix and “Woke” on Hulu.
Lyrical Media’s upcoming slate includes Michael Sarnoski’s “The Death of Robin Hood” starring Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer, Adam Wingard’s A24 action-thriller film “Onslaught,” George Nolfi’s “Elevation,” and a movie adaptation of Emily Henry’s rom-com book “Funny Story” and a film based on “Butcher & Blackbird, a twisted love story from author Brynne Weaver.
Roberts is repped by Joel Gotler of Intellectual Property Group in association with attorney Lloyd Jassin.
Source Agencies
