You might have heard that Laurie Petrou’s Stargazer has been optioned by Nikki Ray Media… and that the VERVE team are thrilled!
The Canadian production company, run by Executive Producers Tanya Linton and Mike Sheerin, announced the option for this coming-of-age thriller earlier this week. Stargazer is one of a trio of titles that have been optioned by Nikki Ray Media, alongside Bitcoin Widow by Jennifer Robertson and The Case of the Murderous Dr. Cream by Dean Jobb.
Following the intoxicating bond between two affluent girls in the 90s, Stargazer is a dark and dreamlike tale about how stardom puts friendships under strain. The novel was published in June and can already be found on several best-of lists. Notably, it was on Taylor Jenkins Reid’s summer reading list and named as one of Cosmopolitan UK’s Hottest New Beach Reads for Summer 2022!
Laurie Petrou, the award-winning author of Sister of Mine, says: ‘I’m absolutely thrilled to be working with Tayna Linton and Mike Sherrin of Nikki Ray Media. We have a shared vision of how Stargazer would translate as a limited series, and I cannot wait for my main characters, Diana and Aurelle, to light up the screen. Many readers have told me they can picture the book adapted as a series. The chilling feel, the characters, and the dark academia aesthetic are primed for adaptation.’
VERVE Books editor Jenna Gordon adds: ‘It’s such exciting news, I’m so delighted for Laurie. I count myself among her readers for whom a series adaptation of Stargazer makes perfect sense – it’s a vivid, visual novel, and already has the perfect soundtrack in the form of the playlist Laurie made!’
We’re over the moon for Laurie and eager to see how this news develops! Casting discussions are already underway in the office. Names such as Sydney Sweeney, Elle Fanning, Sadie Sink, Chloe Moretz and Daisy Edgar Jones have been thrown into the mix for Diana and/or Aurelle. And could Nicole Kidman work as Marianne Taylor? How about Meryl Streep? DM us your thoughts on Instagram @VERVE_Books!
To find out more about this exciting announcement, you can read the press release here.