Lyrical Media and Ryder Picture Company (RPC) announced today that filmmaker Chris McKay (Renfield, The Tomorrow War, The Lego Batman Movie) is attached to direct a film adaptation of Brynne Weaver’s bestselling novel Butcher & Blackbird, the first installment of Weaver’s #1 New York Times bestselling “Ruinous Love” trilogy. The genre-breaking novel quickly rose to prominence after its release on October 23, 2023, becoming a New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher’s Weekly bestseller and going viral on BookTok, TikTok’s hub for book lovers. Lyrical Media’s Alexander Black and RPC’s Aaron Ryder and Andrew Swett will produce the film, with RPC’s Emma Rappold serving as co-producer. Lyrical Media’s Jon Rosenberg and Natalie Sellers will executive produce alongside Weaver. The film does not yet have a screenwriter attached.
Butcher and Blackbird follow two competing killers who target other serial killers as they attempt to one up each other. As their unlikely bond grows into something deeper, they start to wonder if a future together could ever be possible.
Brynne Weaver is a #1 New York Times and #1 international bestselling author of the “Ruinous Love” trilogy. She recently signed a seven-figure deal for her upcoming dark rom-com trilogy. Her books have been sold in over 18 countries with over 1 million copies sold to date.
Chris McKay is a filmmaker known for his work across the Lego film series, including The Lego Batman Movie, on which he served as director. Most recently, McKay directed Chris Pratt in the sci-fi action film The Tomorrow War for Skydance, Paramount, and Amazon, as well as Nicolas Cage and Nicholas Hoult in the vampire comedy Renfield for Universal.
