Producers Scott Delman and Zanne Devine have acquired the rights to adapt I.S. Berry's debut novel 'The Peacock and the Sparrow' into a feature film. The story, set during the Arab Spring in Bahrain, follows a CIA spy caught in a web of murder, conspiracy, and revolution. Berry, a former CIA operations officer, drew from her experiences in the Middle East for the award-winning book.
Scott Delman and Zanne Devine, experienced producers in film and television, have optioned the rights to 'The Peacock and the Sparrow,' the first novel by I.S. Berry, a former CIA operations officer. The book, published as a spy thriller, is set in Bahrain amid the Arab Spring uprisings. It centers on a CIA operative whose assignment unravels, drawing him into elements of murder, conspiracy, and an unfolding revolution while exploring themes of love, betrayal, espionage, and the intricacies of Middle East politics and international relations.
Berry's novel received widespread acclaim, earning recognition as the Times Thriller of the Year and the Telegraph Thriller of the Year. It was also listed among the best books of the year by the New Yorker, Financial Times, Guardian, and NPR. In 2024, it secured the Edgar Award, the International Thriller Writers Award, the Barry Award, and the Macavity Award for Best First Novel.
Delman and Devine expressed enthusiasm for the project in a joint statement: "‘The Peacock and the Sparrow’ is one of the most exciting new novels we’ve read in years, and there was never a doubt in our minds that the story demanded to be told on film. We’re overjoyed to be bringing I.S. Berry’s essential and heart-pounding story to the screen."
Details on casting and the full creative team are expected to be revealed later. Berry, who served six years as a CIA operations officer in locations including wartime Baghdad, has lived and worked across Europe and the Middle East, spending two years in Bahrain during the Arab Spring. She is currently developing a sequel novel featuring a half-British, half-Iraqi woman who infiltrates an Al Qaeda cell in Europe as a double agent during the Global War on Terror, inspired by real events.
Delman, a thirteen-time Tony Award winner, previously executive-produced the HBO miniseries 'Station Eleven' and is working on a Lionsgate series based on 'Billion Dollar Fantasy' as well as a project on the Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal. His stage productions include 'The Ferryman,' 'Leopoldstadt,' and 'Network.' Devine's film credits encompass 'I, Tonya,' 'Mr. Holmes,' and 'Easy A,' with her remake of 'Youngblood' set for release in March.
