Film rights to Peter Lovenheim's forthcoming nonfiction book IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, the true story of when Lovenheim, concerned for the lack of community in his suburban area, started asking his neighbors if he could come over to their houses for sleepovers to get to know them better, to Julia Roberts' Red Om Films, with Philip Rose and Lisa Gillan and Roberts producing, along with Reliance Big Entertainment, by Sean Daily at Hotchkiss and Associates, on behalf of Geri Thoma at Markson Thoma.
VARIETY: Julia Roberts moves to 'Neighborhood'
Red Om acquires screen rights to book
By MICHAEL FLEMING
Julia Roberts' production shingle Red Om Films has acquired screen rights to "In the Neighborhood," a nonfiction book by Peter Lovenheim to be published next April by Perigee.
Deal marks the fifth property Red Om has set up through its first-look pact with Reliance Big Entertainment; Red Om's is one of the 10 accords the India-based giant made with production companies of A-list stars and directors. Reliance Big's hope is to nurture 30 star-driven films it can co-finance with studios.
"In the Neighborhood" starts with Lovenheim's realization of a lack of community in his suburban hometown. In an effort to get to know his neighbors better, he asks if he can come to their homes for sleepovers. His goal: to facilitate something more than the feeling of strangers living with strangers in modern suburbia.
Red Om sparked to the Capra-esque element, and Reliance Big agreed.
Philip Rose and Lisa Gillan as well as Roberts will produce for Red Om.
Roberts, who's currently shooting "Eat, Pray, Love" for Columbia Pictures, hasn't had a first-look studio deal since her alliance ended with Joe Roth's Revolution.