The late “Jurassic Park” and “Rising Sun” author Michael Crichton and Alex Cross series novelist James Patterson are teaming for a new book which is expected to be the subject of a screen rights auction early next year according to Deadline.
Titled “Eruption” and releasing on June 3rd 2024, the book is based on a partially finished manuscript by Crichton who passed away in 2008. The author’s widow and CEO of the CrichtonSun company that runs his estate, Sherri Crichton, gave the work to Patterson to finish.
In the book, a once-in-a-century volcanic eruption of Hawaii’s Mauna Loa threatens a secret cache of chemical weapons that can destroy not only the island but the world. “Eruption” is planned to be the first book in a series.
Sherri Crichton says her late husband had been working on the book for years and, as per usual with his approaches, had large volumes of scientific research, comprehensive notes, detailed outlines and more featured throughout along with plenty of interviews with volcanologists.
Crichton and Patterson between them have combined global sales in excess of 675 million books.
CrichtonSun has a deal with Shane Salerno and The Story Factory to generate new adaptations of her late husband’s work in film, TV and publishing. The Story Factory and CAA will broker the screen right auction.
