Shonda Rhimes

Source: Jay Goldman

Shonda Rhimes

Netflix has bought the rights to adapt forthcoming Blake Crouch novel Recursion as a feature film and “television universe” from producer Shonda Rhimes and director-producer Matt Reeves.

Due to be published by Crown next June, Recursion is described as a sci-fi thriller, epic romance and police procedural about a brilliant female scientist who invents a powerful technology allowing people to reinvent their most visceral memories.

Rhimes and Betsy Beer’s Shondaland and Matt Reeves’ 6th & Idaho will produce the adaptations. Crouch is best known for his Wayward Pines trilogy, adapted as a 2015-16 series on which M Night Shyamalan served as executive producer.

Last year Shondaland signed a multi-year deal with Netflix. 6Th & Idaho signed an exclusive first-look deal with the streamer earlier this year, covering features to be produced and/or directed by Reeves, the director of Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes who is currently working on The Batman.

Commenting on the Recursion deal Rhimes said: “Projects like this are why I came to Netflix. The opportunity to explore a multi-genre universe in innovative ways is extremely exciting. Matt and Blake both have the tremendous ability to build compelling characters and imaginative landscapes and I am thrilled to work alongside them.”

Reeves added: “Blake’s mind-bending novel presents an incredible opportunity to explore its expansive narrative simultaneously through both film and television. Netflix is uniquely suited for this ambitious undertaking and I can’t imagine a more exciting partner than the astonishingly talented Shonda Rhimes whose work I have admired for years.”