Miramax bags Bling

Hip-hop novel set for book, film synergy

HOLLYWOOD — Miramax has acquired book and film rights to music journo Erica Kennedy’s debut novel, “Bling.”

Tome tells of a hip-hop music mogul who turns a small-town singer into a megastar. Tapping Kennedy’s knowledge of the hip-hop music industry gained as a reporter for Vibe, Us Weekly and InStyle, “Bling” is expected to be a roman a clef.

While the book was being shopped, scouts had taken to calling it “The Devil Wears Phat Farm,” a play on former Vogue editorial assistant Lauren Weisberger’s successful “The Devil Wears Prada.”

Working together

“Bling” also reps the latest attempt by Miramax to wring movie content out of its book arm.

“This is another great example of the synergy between our book and film divisions,” said Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein. ” ‘Bling’ is an extremely timely project, offering a fresh perspective on the expanding world of hip-hop.”

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Other Miramax Books properties being developed by the film company include Eoin Colfer’s “Artemis Fowl” trilogy; Jonathan Stroud’s upcoming children’s series “The Bartimaeus Trilogy”; and Scott Mebus’ novel on dating, “The Booty Nomad.”

‘Unputdownable’

In announcing the acquisition of “Bling,” Miramax Books topper Jonathan Burnham called it “a brilliant, unputdownable, uninhibited commercial novel — an African-American ‘Valley of the Dolls’ with massive crossover potential.”

At the film division, “Bling” will be overseen by senior VPs Michelle Raimo and Jennifer Wachtell.

Kennedy is repped by Donadio & Olson.

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Update: 2024-07-20

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