Manufacturing banner FlipNarrative, arrange by Waleed Zuaiter — the BAFTA-nominated star of “Baghdad Central” and “Gangs of London” and Oscar-nominated producer of “Omar” — has optioned the rights to Shannon Chakraborty’s newest novel “The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi,” with plans to develop it right into a multi-season sequence and gaming platform.

The e-book — the primary in a trilogy being revealed by Harper Voyager — is a swashbuckling excessive seas journey following a infamous Muslim pirate captain who has survived backstabbing rogues, vengeful service provider princes, a number of husbands and an precise demon earlier than retiring to a lifetime of piety. That’s till she and her crew are compelled into one final journey — embarking on a mission throughout the Indian Ocean battling a supernatural world they by no means knew existed. 

“With ‘The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi,’ we’re given a uncommon perception into the melting pot that’s the twelfth century Indian Ocean,” stated Zuaiter, who based FlipNarrative alongside his spouse Joanne Zuiter, with the 2 later joined by improvement govt Sean-Dean Thomas. “The array of cultures who traversed these waters; Arabs, Africans, Asians and Europeans all taking alternatives wherever doable to make their fortunes. None so greater than Amina al-Sirafi, the anti-hero we by no means knew we would have liked.”

FlipNarrative was established to amplify underrepresented and traditionally misrepresented voices, with Zuaiter — an Arab-American whose 30 years in Hollywood contains credit in “Home of Playing cards,” “London Has Fallen” and “Altered Carbon” — aiming to make the most of its place between Hollywood and MENASA (the Center East, North Africa and South Asia).

“I’m delighted to work with FlipNarrative on adapting ‘The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi,” stated Chakraborty, whose “The Daevabad Trilogy” books grew to become New York Instances bestsellers and had been nominated for a number of awards. “This story is desperately pricey to my coronary heart and from the very starting of my conversations with Joana, Waleed and Shaun, their ardour concerning the characters — about each Amina’s swashbuckling wiles and struggles with motherhood — resonated so clearly, as did their want to make use of the story as a showcase for the area and rejoice the cultures and historical past that impressed it.”

Added Zuaiter: “Shannon has created a personality in Amina that’s so richly flawed that it’s unattainable to not relate to her. Somebody who went towards the tide by refusing to simply accept the chains the world shackles girls with; who seized a chance that will by no means often be provided to her, and excelled to realize respect from her friends and worry from her enemies.”

FlipNarrative is represented by Echo Lake Leisure and The Artist Partnership. Chakraborty is represented by Echo Lake Leisure on behalf of Azantian Literary.