Zucker Productions/Lonetree Entertainment Acquire Film Rights to Cynthia Pelayo’s “Children of Chicago”

Cynthia Pelayo award-winning novel will be brought to life…

Janet Zucker has optioned the film rights to the Latina poet and author’s International Latino Book Award winner Children of Chicago for Zucker Productions, with producer Tony Eldridge for Lonetree Entertainment.

Cynthia PelayoA two-time Bram Stoker Award-nominated author, Pelayo’s horror novel is described as a gripping, modern-day spin on the Pied Piper fairy tale, as well as a gritty love letter to the underbelly of Chicago.

In it, Detective Lauren Medina’s latest call brings her to investigate a brutally murdered teenager in Humboldt Park―a crime eerily like her sister’s murder decades before. Unlike her strait-laced partner, she recognizes the crime, and the new graffiti popping up all over the city, as a message: the Pied Piper has returned, and debts shall be paid.

“Cynthia has done an amazing job creating a unique multilevel story with unforgettable characters that jump off the page and take up disquieting residence in the dark recesses of the mind,” said Eldridge. “This is a story that continues to haunt long after the last page is read. Janet and I are thrilled that Cynthia has given us the opportunity to bring Children of Chicago to the screen.”

“Working with both Tony Eldridge and Janet Zucker has been incredible,” added Pelayo. “Tony understands the power and intensity of this story. Janet’s vision was completely in line with my goal of communicating the magic and mystery of these characters and the city of Chicago.”

Pelayo is also the author of works including Loteria, Santa MuerteThe MissingPoems of My Night and the poetry collection Into the Forest and All the Way Through.

Polis BooksBIPOC crime imprint Agora published her latest work on the Pied Piper legend, which is the first in a series, in February of 2021.

Leave a Reply