A24 and Square Peg in talks for Emma Cline's 'The Guest' with Sadie Sink and Lorene Scafaria
Deadline and Variety report that A24 and Square Peg are negotiating rights to Emma Cline's 2024 novel 'The Guest'. Sadie Sink is in talks to star and produce, and Lorene Scafaria to direct. No deal has been confirmed.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2A24 and Square Peg are in negotiations for the rights to Emma Cline's novel 'The Guest', with a feature film adaptation planned, according to Deadline and Variety. DeadlineN “Deadline is hearing A24 and Square Peg are in negotiations for rights to the book” Read at Deadline ↗ VarietyLC “A24 and Square Peg are in negotiations to adapt Cline’s novel” Read at Variety ↗ Mixed · 2Sadie Sink is in talks to star in the film and to produce it alongside Square Peg. DeadlineN “Sink will also produce alongside Square Peg.” Read at Deadline ↗ VarietyLC “is in talks to star in and produce “The Guest,”” Read at Variety ↗ Mixed · 2Lorene Scafaria is in talks to direct; Deadline says she would also write the film. DeadlineN “Lorene Scafaria in talks to write and direct a feature film” Read at Deadline ↗ VarietyLC “writer-director Lorene Scafaria (“Hustlers,” “Succession”) in talks to helm the project” Read at Variety ↗
Mixed · 2The novel was published in 2024 by Penguin Random House and follows a calculating grifter in the Hamptons in summer. It was longlisted for the Pen/Faulkner Award and named a Belletrist Book Club pick and a best book of the year by outlets including The New Yorker, Time, NPR and The Washington Post. DeadlineN “The book was longlisted for the Pen/Faulkner Award, and was named a Belletrist Book Club pick” Read at Deadline ↗ VarietyLC “best book of the year by more than a dozen publications, including The New Yorker, Time, NPR and The Washington Post.” Read at Variety ↗ Centre · 1Deadline, citing unnamed sources, says Sink was a big fan of the book and moved quickly to attach herself when the rights came to market over the summer, with Scafaria joining soon after. It says about 12 other buyers were in the auction, and that A24 and Square Peg, with the Sink–Scafaria package, won it and are now in exclusive negotiations. DeadlineN “Insiders say there were around 12 other buyers in the mix for the auction”“The studio is now in exclusive negotiations for rights.” Read at Deadline ↗ Mixed · 2Both outlets describe Sink as a recent Marvel Cinematic Universe addition after her Stranger Things role. Deadline says she played Jean Grey opposite Tom Holland in Spider-Man: Brand New Day and is set to return in X-Men, which begins production at the start of next year. It describes Scafaria as best known for the Lionsgate drama Hustlers and says she directed several episodes of HBO's Succession. DeadlineN “recently starring as Jean Grey opposite Tom Holland in the record-breaking Spider-Man: Brand New Day”“She also directed a handful of episodes of HBO’s Emmy-winning Succession.” Read at Deadline ↗ VarietyLC “Newly-minted MCU star and “Stranger Things” alum Sadie Sink” Read at Variety ↗
Mixed · 2Variety credits Deadline with first reporting the news. Neither report cites a confirmation from A24, Square Peg or the talent, and the arrangements are described as talks. VarietyLC “Deadline first reported news of A24’s acquisition.” Read at Variety ↗ DeadlineN “Sink in talks to star in and Lorene Scafaria in talks to write and direct” Read at Deadline ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Variety leads with Sink as the star and frames the story as a short follow-up to Deadline's scoop.
- Emphasis
- Sink's profile as a 'newly-minted MCU star' and the novel's acclaim.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits the auction, the 12 other bidders and Sink's X-Men plans, all in Deadline's report.
- Charged language
- “Newly-minted MCU star”
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Deadline presents the story as an exclusive, with auction detail and the competitive background to how the package won.
- Emphasis
- Auction dynamics, Sink moving fast to attach herself, her Marvel career and Scafaria's credits.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives no confirmation from the companies or talent.
- Charged language
- “EXCLUSIVE”
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- A24 and Square Peg are in negotiations for the rights to 'The Guest'.
- Sadie Sink is in talks to star in and produce the film.
- Lorene Scafaria is in talks to direct.
- The novel was published in 2024 by Penguin Random House and was longlisted for the Pen/Faulkner Award.
Where accounts differ
-
Status of the deal
- Left
- Variety describes the talks as negotiations and, citing Deadline, refers to 'A24’s acquisition'.
- Centre
- Deadline says A24 and Square Peg won an auction with about 12 other buyers and are now in exclusive negotiations.
A24 organisation
With Square Peg, A24 is reported to be in exclusive negotiations for the rights after winning an auction; no statement from the company is quoted.
“The studio is now in exclusive negotiations for rights.” — Deadline
Sadie Sink person
Sink is reported to be in talks to star in and produce, and to have been a big fan of the book who moved fast to attach herself; no comment from her is quoted.
“with Sink being among its biggest fans” — Deadline
Lorene Scafaria person
Scafaria is reported to be in talks to direct (and, per Deadline, write); no comment from her is quoted.
“writer-director Lorene Scafaria (“Hustlers,” “Succession”) in talks to helm the project” — Variety
Left2 articles
-
Sadie Sink in Talks to Star in The Guest,’ Based on Emma Cline’s Bestseller
Neutral Short trade follow-up centred on Sink's casting, crediting Deadline for the first report.
-
Centre1 article
-
Sadie Sink And Lorene Scafaria Eyeing Adaptation Of Emma Cline’s ‘The Guest’ At A24 And Square Peg
Neutral Trade exclusive reporting the rights negotiation with auction detail from sources.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 9 Oct 18:00 First DeadlineN Sadie Sink And Lorene Scafaria Eyeing Adaptation Of Emma Cline’s ‘The Guest’ At A24 And Square Peg
- 9 Oct 18:17 +17m VarietyLC Sadie Sink in Talks to Star in The Guest,’ Based on Emma Cline’s Bestseller
- 9 Oct 19:35 +1h 36m The Hollywood ReporterLC Sadie Sink in Talks to Star in ‘The Guest’, Based on Emma Cline’s Bestseller
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.