Paramount Pictures acquires film rights to Pierce Brown’s ‘Red Rising’ book series

Paramount Pictures has acquired the film rights to Red Rising, the bestselling dystopian science-fiction series by author Pierce Brown, with filmmaker Francis Lawrence set to direct an adaptation of the first novel.

Lawrence, known for directing multiple instalments of The Hunger Games franchise, will helm the project, while Justin Rhodes, who worked with him on developing Netflix’s video game adaptation BioShock, will write the screenplay.

Blending Roman mythology with science fiction, Red Rising is set on Mars in a futuristic society divided into a colour-coded hierarchy, with the Golds occupying the highest position.

The story follows Darrow, a young miner belonging to the Reds, the lowest class in the social order, whose members are condemned to hard labour. After witnessing the death of his beloved and discovering the truth about his existence, Darrow infiltrates the privileged Gold society with the aim of bringing it down.

Six books in the series have been published so far, with a seventh in the works. Brown announced on Instagram in 2024 that the saga had sold more than six million copies, although it was not clear whether the figure referred to sales in the US or worldwide.

Lawrence and Cameron MacConomy will produce the adaptation under their banner, alongside Francesco Goedhuis. Brown, who also wrote a prequel comic-book story set in the Red Rising universe, published by Dynamite Entertainment, will serve as an executive producer.

The project adds to Paramount’s growing slate of adaptations of acclaimed literary works. Children of Blood and Bone has completed production and is scheduled for release on January 15, 2027. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, based on Gabrielle Zevin’s novel, is currently in production, with Daisy Edgar-Jones among its cast.

The studio is also developing The Midnight Library, based on Matt Haig’s novel, with Florence Pugh in the lead role. The film is scheduled to begin shooting next year.

Lawrence, whose most recent directorial outing was The Long Walk, an adaptation of Stephen King's novel, is also returning to the world of Panem with The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The film, backed by Lionsgate, is scheduled for release on November 20, 2027.