Apple TV+ Secures Rights to Barry Eisler’s John Rain Novels for Series Adaptation
Barry Eisler’s immensely popular John Rain novels are set to make their way to Apple TV+, thanks to a successful rights acquisition by Tom Winchester’s production company, Pure Fiction. The company is now in the process of transforming the beloved assassin-themed books into a television series.
The race to secure the John Rain series was fiercely competitive. Sources indicate that the collaboration of literary agent Laura Rennert, Tom Winchester of Pure Fiction, Apple TV+, attorney Joel Vanderkloot, and Simon Gillis, co-Managing Director of See-Saw Films, was instrumental in closing the deal. See-Saw Films is also a financial supporter of Pure Fiction.
There had been previous efforts to adapt the John Rain series for television, including a project that would have starred Keanu Reeves, which ultimately did not proceed. However, with a streaming service like Apple TV+ now involved, and rights secured for 18 novels and four short stories, the series has a strong chance of becoming a new flagship franchise for the platform.
Exploring the World of John Rain
Eisler’s novels follow the life of John Rain, a former CIA operative who works as a half-Japanese, half-American assassin renowned for his ability to make his assassinations seem like accidents. Key characters in the series include Delilah, a Mossad agent torn between her feelings for Rain and her duties, and Dox, a humorous Texan sniper.
The narrative has been extended beyond Rain himself, encompassing a broader ‘Killer Collective’ universe. This includes a series of spinoff stories featuring characters such as Livia Lone, a sex-crimes detective, Daniel Larison, a closeted black-ops operative, and Marvin Manus, a deaf contractor. These characters occasionally come together to confront a rogue unit targeting government whistleblowers, creating a rich, interconnected narrative.
The adaptation will be a joint production between Pure Fiction and See-Saw Films. Both Winchester and Gillis are set to serve as executive producers, alongside Eisler himself.
Upon confirming the deal, Deadline spoke to Eisler who expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership with Apple TV+ and Pure Fiction. He praised Apple for its commitment to quality, as exemplified by successful projects like F1 The Movie and Dark Matter, and highlighted the company’s adept handling of espionage themes, as seen in the series Slow Horses. Winchester and Gillis’s involvement, with their experience on projects like Shōgun and Slow Horses, further contributed to his confidence in the team.
Laura Rennert also commented on the intense competition for the rights, noting that many sought not only the John Rain series but also the rights to Eisler’s other works. Ultimately, the combination of Apple, Pure Fiction, and See-Saw Films presented an unmatched opportunity to not only produce a compelling series based on John Rain but also to expand and interlink all of Eisler’s thrilling narratives into what could be termed the Killer Collective Universe.
Daniel Hayes is a business journalist with a focus on market trends, startups, and corporate strategies.
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