Rainbow options rights to literary saga Game of Gods
Rainbow has announced it has optioned the rights to adapt Game of Gods, the best-selling mythological saga written by author Hazel Riley. A huge success on story-telling platform Wattpad, Game of Gods has attracted millions of readers and established itself as one of the most popular titles on the Young Adult scene.
Counting over 6.8 million reads on Wattpad in less than two years and winning a Watty Award in 2022, the first volume of the series, Game of Gods: Descent into Hell, arrived in Italian bookstores in October 2023, with a paperback edition published by Sperling & Kupfer. The title reached #7 in the general bestseller TOP10 in Italy. The saga has since attracted more fans with the release of two more chapters: Game of Titans: Ascent to Heaven and Game of Chaos: Ares, which expanded the saga’s narrative universe and captivated new readers.
The acquisition of the rights to Game of Gods is part of Rainbow’s proactive expansion strategy, which has already yielded some highly successful adaptations such as The Tearsmith, the first Italian film to become the most watched non-English film on Netflix worldwide.
“After the success of The Tearsmith, Wattpad has once again proved to be a source of great content, and Game of Gods is a perfect example of gripping contemporary storytelling for the Young Adult audience,” says Iginio Straffi, founder and CEO of Rainbow . “The title has already shown incredible potential in the publishing and digital worlds and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring this beautiful story to life with the help of our great film division, Colorado Film, who will act as executive producers on the project.”
The Game of Gods adaptation will be produced by Rainbow and Colorado Film, together with associate producer Wattpad WEBTOON Studios.
Set on the exclusive Yale University campus, Game of Gods blends suspense, romance and Greek mythology in a gripping narrative full of twists and turns. An original and contemporary retelling of the myth of Hades and Persephone, the story finds protagonist, Haven, caught up in the Games of the Gods, a mysterious ritual organized by the powerful and dangerous Lively brothers. A journey of passion, mystery and power, the saga has already captivated millions of readers and is now set to make its mark on the wider audiences.
