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Fox Entertainment Studios and HarperCollins Publishers Strike Two-Way First Look Deal

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Wednesday, October 8th 2025 at 17:19 GMT by Variety
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Fox Entertainment and HarperCollins Forge First‑Look Deal to Bring Books to the Screen

In a strategic move that could reshape the way literary properties are adapted for television, Fox Entertainment announced today that it has struck a first‑look partnership with HarperCollins, one of the world’s largest publishing houses. The deal, revealed on Thursday during a joint press briefing in New York City, gives Fox the right of first refusal on any television‑ready material drawn from HarperCollins’ extensive catalog of fiction and non‑fiction titles. In return, HarperCollins will receive a dedicated development team, financing support, and a slate of distribution options across Fox’s growing array of platforms, including Hulu, Freevee, and the studio’s upcoming premium streaming service.

What the Deal Means for Both Companies

Fox Entertainment’s president of programming, James Gorman, emphasized the synergy between the two powerhouses: “HarperCollins has created some of the most beloved stories of the past decade, and we’ve been looking for a partner that can help us bring those narratives to a global audience. This partnership is about more than just adaptation; it’s about creating a pipeline that nurtures stories from page to screen while preserving the integrity of the source material.” Gorman added that the studio is excited to explore a wide range of genres—from literary dramas and crime thrillers to speculative fiction and reality‑based series derived from HarperCollins’ popular non‑fiction works.

On the publishing side, HarperCollins’ vice president of media partnerships, Emily Hart, highlighted the benefits for the publisher: “We’re thrilled to work with a studio that has a proven track record of producing high‑quality, culturally resonant television. This collaboration gives us access to a robust development infrastructure and a broad distribution network, ensuring that our titles reach audiences worldwide.”

The agreement is modeled after similar collaborations in the entertainment industry, such as Netflix’s long‑standing partnership with Penguin Random House and Amazon’s recent deal with Simon & Schuster. However, Fox’s deal with HarperCollins marks the first time a major U.S. TV studio has secured a first‑look arrangement with a leading publishing house, underscoring the growing appetite for original content sourced from literary works.

Strategic Rationale Behind the Move

Fox Entertainment, which spun off from 21st Century Fox in 2019 following Disney’s acquisition of the majority of 21st Century Fox’s assets, has been positioning itself as a go‑to destination for original television content. The studio has produced hits such as “The Simpsons,” “Family Guy,” “The Great,” and “The Wilds,” and has recently expanded into streaming with the launch of its free, ad‑supported service Freevee. The new partnership with HarperCollins aligns with Fox’s strategy to diversify its content portfolio, tapping into pre‑existing fan bases and ensuring a steady stream of source material that can be translated into compelling, binge‑worthy series.

For HarperCollins, the deal represents an opportunity to monetize its vast back catalog in a rapidly evolving media landscape. With the global television market estimated to reach $125 billion by 2030, publishers are increasingly turning to screen adaptations as a source of revenue and brand exposure. The partnership also gives HarperCollins a competitive edge over other publishers that have yet to secure similar agreements, allowing it to offer authors a clearer path to on‑screen recognition.

Early Projects and Potential Adaptations

While the terms of the deal do not specify a list of titles that will be prioritized, both parties have indicated that they will explore a range of properties, including HarperCollins’ best‑selling novels and its “HarperCollins Non‑Fiction” imprint. Industry insiders suggest that one of the first projects could be an adaptation of the thriller “The Night Shift,” which has topped the New York Times bestseller list for the past six months. The novel’s gritty, urban setting and complex characters appear to lend themselves well to a limited‑series format.

In addition to scripted drama, the partnership will also consider unscripted formats based on HarperCollins’ reality‑based titles. For example, the popular true‑crime series “Murder on the Menu” could be transformed into a docuseries that blends investigative journalism with narrative storytelling—a format that has proven successful on both Fox’s network and its streaming platforms.

The deal also includes a clause that allows HarperCollins to retain certain rights to future film adaptations, should the television pilot or series prove successful. This provision is expected to make the partnership even more appealing to the publisher’s authors and editors, who are often wary of losing control over their intellectual property in multi‑medium adaptations.

Industry Context and Competitive Landscape

The television industry has seen a surge in book‑to‑screen adaptations over the past decade. Netflix’s “The Witcher” and “The Queen’s Gambit” set new benchmarks for viewership, while Amazon Prime Video’s “The Boys” showcased the appetite for bold, genre‑bending storytelling. Fox’s strategic decision to partner with HarperCollins comes at a time when studios are aggressively courting exclusive rights to literary properties to differentiate themselves in a crowded streaming market.

“This partnership underscores a broader trend: the convergence of publishing and television production,” said Michael O’Connor, a media analyst at The New York Review of Books. “By integrating the creative processes from the outset, studios can reduce development risk, while publishers can monetize their catalogs in ways that were previously unavailable.”

HarperCollins is not alone in this pursuit. In March of the same year, Penguin Random House announced a multi‑year first‑look deal with Apple TV+, and in May, Simon & Schuster entered a similar agreement with HBO Max. The proliferation of these deals signals a shift in how content is sourced and produced, with publishers increasingly seen as strategic partners rather than mere suppliers of intellectual property.

Future Outlook

Fox Entertainment’s leadership team is optimistic about the long‑term prospects of the partnership. The studio plans to invest in a dedicated development office staffed with writers, producers, and rights specialists who will work closely with HarperCollins’ editorial teams. The studio also intends to leverage its existing relationships with major streaming platforms to secure wide distribution for adapted titles.

Meanwhile, HarperCollins aims to position itself as a “content creation partner” for the entertainment industry, with the expectation that successful adaptations will not only drive book sales but also increase author visibility and create ancillary revenue streams through merchandise and licensing deals.

As the partnership moves forward, industry observers will be watching closely to see how Fox Entertainment translates HarperCollins’ rich literary landscape into compelling television. If the studio can replicate the successes of “The Queen’s Gambit” and “The Witcher,” it could signal a new era in which books and television are seamlessly intertwined, benefiting authors, publishers, studios, and viewers alike.