Ben Jacoby to Adapt Thomas Ray’s Novella ‘Silencer’ for Paramount Pictures

Washington [US], February 11 : Ben Jacoby, writer of ‘The First Omen, is set to adapt the Thomas Ray novella ‘Silencer’ for Paramount Pictures, as reported by Deadline.

The film will be produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura, alongside NeoText Corporation, the publisher of the novella. Russell Ackerman, John Schoenfelder, and Jay Schuminsky will also produce for NeoText, while Greg Cohen will oversee development for di Bonaventura Pictures.

The story of ‘Silencer’ follows a CIA field agent who is tasked with capturing the ultimate target, an operative who has been in hiding for decades. This target, a product of the MK Ultra program, is a “silencer”—someone with the ability to read minds and erase them from a distance, making him nearly impossible to track or capture.

Ben Jacoby, who previously co-wrote ‘The Whisper Man’ alongside Chase Palmer, is known for his work on adaptations, including the Netflix and AGBO adaptation of Alex North’s novel. Jacoby also penned the screenplay for ‘The First Omen’, produced by David S. Goyer, and Flash Boys, a Netflix adaptation of Michael Lewis’ bestseller The Big Short.

Additionally, Jacoby wrote the screenplay for To Catch a Killer, a crime thriller directed by Damian Szifron, which starred Shailene Woodley and Ben Mendelsohn.

NeoText has been actively involved in film adaptations, recently selling ‘H.A.V.E.N.’ to Sony Pictures, with Carter Blanchard set to adapt the sci-fi short story. The company has also sold a couple of projects to Amazon, including the adaptation of “American Criminal” directed by Gavin O’Connor and a take on the novella “D.N.A.” backed by Simon Kinberg’s Genre Films, as reported by Deadline.

Key Roles with Bold Emphasis:

1. Ben Jacoby – Writer adapting the ‘Silencer’ novella for the screen.
2. Lorenzo di Bonaventura – Producer, alongside NeoText Corporation.
3. Russell Ackerman, John Schoenfelder, Jay Schuminsky – Producers from NeoText Corporation.
4. CIA field agent – The protagonist tasked with capturing a mind-erasing fugitive.
5. MK Ultra operative – The “silencer” and the ultimate target.
6. Greg Cohen – Development overseer for di Bonaventura Pictures.