Barely days after closing a publishing deal with Little Brown, the screen rights to Matthew Quirk’s first novel The Five Hundred have been purchased by 20th Century Fox. According to Deadline, the movie deal was worth “low-to-mid six figures against low seven figures”. It has been likened to John Grisham’s The Firm, but against a backdrop of political intrigue.

Prior to this two book deal, Quirk was a journalist at The Atlantic, reporting on crime, terrorism and drugs. The Five Hundred will be the first novel in what is currently a two book deal with Little Brown. No doubt both Little Brown and 20th Century Fox are hoping that this could be the birth of a franchise.  Hit the jump for the synopsis.