Rudin
Using his own coin, Scott Rudin has acquired "Saturday," the new novel by "Atonement" author Ian McEwan.
Rudin will produce the feature adaptation and will set a screenwriter shortly.
McEwan's novel focuses on one day in the life of a neurosurgeon.
Though it's his day off, Saturday proves a fateful 24 hours that includes the return of his daughter from Paris, a huge anti-war rally to protest the U.S. invasion of Iraq, a traffic accident and a home invasion. Book, launching this week with heavy hype, will debut at No. 3 on the New York Times bestseller list for April 10.
Novel is one of two major books on that list being cited for their post-9/11 bent. The other, "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," a novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, is also owned by Rudin.
"Loud" is about a man's attempt to recover from the death of his father in the terrorist attacks.
Warner Bros. and Paramount teamed on that acquisition. Par, where Rudin is based, will get first look at "Saturday."
Several McEwan books have been turned into features. The most recent was the Roger Michell-directed "Enduring Love," while director Richard Eyre is prepping a screen version of "Atonement." McEwan has also scripted several films, including "The Good Son."
McEwan's London-based agent Stephen Durbridge closed the deal over Easter after Rudin met with the author in New York last weekend.
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