The Night Manager (2016)
Bob Bookman’s involvement with The Night Manager began during a pivotal moment in author John le Carré’s career. With the Cold War over, readers and publishers alike were curious to see what the master of spy fiction would write next. That answer came in the form of The Night Manager, le Carré's first post-Cold War novel. Working with literary agent Lynn Nesbit and highly respected Knopf publisher Sonny Mehta, Bob acquired the rights and assembled a powerhouse package: Sydney Pollack to direct, Robert Towne to write the screenplay, and legendary former Warners executive John Calley to produce. Bob sold the project to Paramount for a then-record-breaking figure, well into seven figures—one of the highest amounts ever paid for screen rights to a book at the time.
But in a dramatic twist worthy of one of le Carré's own novels, the author severed ties with all his U.S. representatives shortly thereafter—Bob included. Lynn Nesbit, Sonny Mehta, and longtime attorney Mort Leavy were also let go. Meanwhile, Calley left producing to run United Artists, Towne’s screenplay did not attract a star, and Paramount shelved the project. The Night Manager remained unproduced for decades.
Years later, the rights reverted thanks to Bob's original deal with le Carré. By then, the author's sons, Simon and Stephen Cornwell, had launched a production company, The Ink Factory. They took up the mantle and adapted The Night Manager into an acclaimed limited series starring Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie. Bob was involved once again, this time through David Farr—a longtime client of Bob's—who wrote the screenplays for the series.
Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie & Elizabeth Debicki.
Though no longer an agent on the deal, Bob's early vision, packaging expertise, and contractual foresight helped shape the project’s eventual success on screen.
John le Carré cameos in The Night Manager.