Lionsgate has obtained rights to create a movie adaptation to Kayvion Lewis’s upcoming thriller novel Thieves’ Gambit. The anticipated YA book is planned to be published in fall 2023. The adaptation will be directed by Steven Caple Jr. and produced by Temple Hill Entertainment, Morgan Howell, and Christina Hodson; Lewis is the executive producer. 

The novel narrates the life of a young woman who is raised to become an expert thief who must enter a hazardous competition against other talented thieves where the winner can be only one.

“Thieves’ Gambit is a thrilling, wish-fulfilling, globetrotting adventure that will introduce the world to an iconic new heroine,” said Lionsgate president of production Erin Westerman. “Kayvion Lewis is a tremendous new talent, and we’re confident that Steven and our friends at Temple Hill and Hodson Exports will shepherd it into an electrifying movie,” she added.

The US rights for Thieves’ Gambit were recently acquired at auction by Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, for seven figures. Simon & Schuster Children’s Books have UK and Commonwealth rights, and a wave of translation rights in a total of 14 territories as of today.

It is said that the acquisition of filming rights was also a challenge. Robert Melnik represented Lionsgate in negotiating the deal.