>LET'S MAKE A DEAL
Mortals buy books; movie stars buy the rights to books. After Tom Cruise read a manuscript of David Ignatius's CIA thriller The Man in the Mirror, he got Paramount Pictures to secure the movie rights for a cool $1.1 million. Celebrity reading also led to these recent deals:
Primary Colors, by Anonymous (Joe Klein)
Plot: Bill Clinton-like governor runs for President.
Deal: Director Mike Nichols bought rights, signed Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson to star.
Roustabout, by Michelle Chalfoun
Plot: Runaway finds a home as a circus roadie.
Deal: Fox 2000 optioned rights for Winona Ryder.
A Change of Heart, by Claire Sylvia with William Novak
Plot: Transplant recipient takes on traits of donor.
Deal: Sally Fields snagged rights, set to star.
Mothers, by Jax Lowell
Plot: Two lesbian mothers struggle for acceptance in New York City in 1965.
Deal: Goldie Hawn's company optioned rights, Goldie gets the lead.
Before Women Had Wings, by Connie May Fowler
Plot: The life of a poor, religious 6-year-old in rural Florida.
Deal: Oprah Winfrey optioned rights, plans to star.
How to Marry a Black Man, by Cassandra Cato-Louis and Monique Jellerette deJongh
Plot: Two professional women try to get married.
Deal: Whitney Houston optioned rights.
Lily White, by Susan Isaacs
Plot: Criminal lawyer is hired by a scam artist.
Deal: Caravan Pictures bought rights for Whoopi Goldberg, who will star.
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