The novel MrBeast and James Patterson are co-authoring will be published globally.
Following a hot auction that we first told you about in March, HarperCollins has acquired rights to release the book in 15 languages.
No financial details were released, but sources previously pegged bids for the publishing rights, which UTA brought to market, in the eight-figure range. TV and rights were also on the block and we’ll see if this publishing deal results in a screen adaptation soon enough.
The untitled thriller will publish in 2026 through HarperCollins’ global publishing program and marks social media star MrBeast’s first foray into publish. He’s got a superstar partner in Patterson, who is known as the world’s top-selling thriller author.
Synopsis for their novel, which certainly has shades of Squid Game and MrBeast’s Amazon series Beast Games, reads: “In a high-octane, pulse-pounding thriller that only James Patterson and MrBeast can deliver, 100 contestants compete in an extreme global competition as they fight to not only survive dangerous tests held in treacherous locations around the world but also prove their leadership skills. During each of the tests, relationships will grow, betrayals will cut deep, and more and more contestants will be eliminated. Or die. In the end, the one and only winner will receive one billion dollars.”
The deal for world all language rights was negotiated by HarperCollins President and CEO Bill Murray and Liate Stehlik, President and Publisher of the William Morrow Group at HarperCollins, with Robert Barnett and Deneen Howell of Williams & Connolly representing Patterson, and Byrd Leavell and Albert Lee at UTA representing MrBeast.
William Morrow will publish in the U.S., and HarperFiction in the UK. In addition to the English-language markets, versions will be published in Spanish, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Danish, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Japanese, Polish and Czech.
‘My time here is short – what can I do most beautifully?’
As the creator of the Alex Cross and Women’s Murder Club novel franchises, along with true story books about the Kennedys, John Lennon and Tiger Woods, Patterson is considered among the most, if not the top, popular storytellers in the world. He has a co-authored books with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton and won Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal. Many of his books have become TV and film projects.
MrBeast, meanwhile, is behind the world’s most-subscribed YouTube channel that generates more than two billion views a month. His Prime Video reality show Beast Games is the streamer’s most-watched unscripted series and is set to return for another two seasons. His Feastables consumer good brand has become one of the fastest-growing companies in history and he has become a leader in digital-first philanthrophy
Though their backgrounds could hardly be further apart, Patterson has now revealed how the unlikely duo came together. “One thought has driven my choices for the past couple of years: ‘My time here is short – what can I do most beautifully?’ I met MrBeast at his studio; we talked for several hours and settled on an idea we were incredibly excited to turn into a novel,” he said. “I think it’s going to turn on readers all over the world.”
“I’m pumped to be teaming up with James, one of the best-selling authors of all time, on this action-packed story,” said MrBeast, aka Jimmy Donaldson. “We’re both passionate about inspiring people around the world to read more, and I hope this also opens doors for other creators looking to get published.”
“In the age of social media, storytelling has the power to travel the globe in an instant – and when the world’s #1 thriller writer and the #1 social media creator come together to write a book, it demands a global, simultaneous release, which HarperCollins is uniquely positioned to provide,” said HarperCollins boss Murray. “We’re thrilled to be the publishing partner of James Patterson and MrBeast for this groundbreaking project, and proud to bring it to audiences in 15 languages.”
