EXCLUSIVE: Sunset Lane Media has taken rights to the nonfiction book The Missing Peace from Dennis Ross, who served as the Director of Policy Planning in the State Department under U.S. President George H. W. Bush and was the chief U.S. negotiator under President Bill Clinton.
The Missing Peace chronicles the behind-the-scenes negotiations of the 2000 Camp David Summit between President Bill Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat.
The project will be produced by David Beaubaire for Sunset Lane Media and Steve Silverman. The book was published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
The feature project will capture the intense 15-day negotiations at Camp David 25 years ago this month – when, despite decades of conflict and mistrust, the parties came closer than ever before to a comprehensive peace agreement. The adaptation centers on the three leaders but also highlights the ensemble of advisors, intermediaries, and staff on all sides whose efforts shaped the talks behind closed doors, including Ross himself, who served as President Clinton’s lead Middle East envoy and was directly involved in every moment of the complex and emotionally charged discussions.
“In an era when hopelessness often defines the conversation, it’s crucial to remember that peace was once within reach,” said Ross. “In 2000, we came very close to ending the conflict. While the conflict has never been a morality play where one side is completely right and the other completely wrong, it’s vital to understand just how possible peace once felt — and to tell the story of when both sides believed it could happen.”
“We’re honored to partner with Ambassador Ross to bring this gripping, vital and highly relevant story to
life,” said Beaubaire. “It is one of the most consequential untold political dramas of our lifetime. It is an
urgent and deeply human story about hope, ego, possibility and ultimately the limits of diplomacy. In
today’s climate, revisiting this moment feels more relevant than ever.”
Sunset Lane Media (SLM), which develops for film, TV and streaming, is led by Beaubaire. A 25-year motion picture vet, he’s held senior creative roles at several studios where he was pivotal in such movies as Flight, Up in the Air, The Big Short, Baby Driver, Jack Ryan, Money Monster, All the Money in the World, Dreamgirls among many others. Most recently he produced the film, Fatherhood, starring Kevin Hart and directed by Paul Weitz. As well, he is an executive producer on the smash hit series The Night Agent on Netflix. Prior to launching his career in Hollywood, he worked for President Clinton from 1992-1999 at the White House and on both of his presidential campaigns.
Silverman’s career as an attorney, crisis management expert, political operative and communications strategist have taken him to senior roles in the White House, Citigroup, the New York State Executive Chamber, the University of Pennsylvania and the ABA Task Force for American Democracy.
