SONAR ENTERTAINMENT TO DEVELOP THE FIFTH BEATLE AS EVENT SERIES

Press Contact:

Rachel Depew, 42West – Rachel.Depew@42West.net

Author Vivek J. Tiwary to adapt his best-selling graphic novel for television

NEW YORK (March 7, 2016) – Sonar Entertainment has optioned the rights to New York Times #1 Best-Selling graphic novel, The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story, written by Vivek J. Tiwary with art by Andrew C. Robinson and Kyle Baker, it was announced today by Tom Patricia, EVP, Event Series, Sonar Entertainment.  The critically acclaimed novel will be developed as a multi-part event series with Tiwary adapting his work for television and serving as executive producer. The project comes complete with Tiwary’s unprecedented access to the Lennon/McCartney song catalog – the first ever Beatles-related biopic to secure such rights.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Vivek to expand his vision to another medium and expose a whole new audience to his riveting and audacious work,” said Patricia. “This story of the man behind the rise of The Beatles will captivate fans around the world and make for a compelling series that is both intimate and epic.”

Tiwary added, “Brian Epstein’s story is rich in inspiration and is set amidst a backdrop of great cultural change and the legendary history of The Beatles, so an event series truly feels like the only way to do Brian justice.  We’re going to do wonderful things with the extra creative room afforded to us and I’m thrilled to be working with Sonar to take advantage of all the exciting elements this format has to offer.”

The Fifth Beatle recounts the untold true story of legendary Beatles manager, Brian Epstein, and his effort to drive the unknown band from playing in a cellar in Liverpool to international super-stardom. Epstein overcame great obstacles, both personally and professionally, being a gay man in a time and place where homosexual acts were deemed a felony. As Paul McCartney himself once said, “If anyone was ‘The Fifth Beatle’ it was Brian.” The graphic novel, published by Dark Horse Comics in 2013, went on to win numerous literary awards including the Eisner Award, considered the ‘Academy Awards of the comics industry’, for Best Reality-Based work, and two Harvey Awards including Best Original Graphic Album, as well as several other accolades. In 2014 The Fifth Beatle was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives, in conjunction with Brian Epstein’s official induction.

About Sonar Entertainment

Sonar Entertainment is a multi-faceted independent entertainment company designed to meet today’s ever-changing landscape in global television production and distribution.  With headquarters in Los Angeles and offices around the world, Sonar is uniquely positioned to participate in a wide range of ways in order to create television series, miniseries and movies.  The company develops, produces, acquires, finances, packages and distributes product both internationally and domestically. Current series include “The Shannara Chronicles,” for MTV; “Taboo,” starring Tom Hardy, for FX and BBC One; and “The Son,” for AMC. While primarily focused on the development and production of new product, Sonar is also the distributor of over 1,000 library titles comprised of award-winning programs from RHI Entertainment, Hallmark Entertainment and Hal Roach Studios, among others.

About Vivek J. Tiwary

Vivek J. Tiwary is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and a Tony Award-winning Broadway producer. His graphic novel The Fifth Beatle won numerous literary awards including the Will Eisner Comic Industry Award and two Harvey Awards, and has been added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives. On Broadway, Tiwary’s productions have won a combined 25 Tony Awards over 44 Tony nominations and include such groundbreaking work as Green Day’s “American Idiot,” “A Raisin In The Sun,” and Mel Brooks’ “The Producers”. Tiwary is working with Alanis Morissette to adapt her album “Jagged Little Pill” for Broadway. He lives in New York with his inspiring wife, their delightful children, and a feisty papillon.  Vivek is represented by Circle of Confusion and Larry Kopeikin at Morris Yorn.