John Gore Studios has acquired all rights to the complete works of Dame Susan Hill, the author behind the 1983 Gothic novel The Woman in Black. The deal turns one proven horror title into a multi-format library and gives Hammer Films, which Gore has owned since late 2023, a broader foundation for new adaptations.
The deal
The 2012 Hammer adaptation of The Woman in Black, starring Daniel Radcliffe, earned $127.7 million worldwide. That made it the highest-grossing British horror in 20 years at the time and set the record for the biggest U.S. opening in Hammer’s history. The underlying stage adaptation ran 33 years in London’s West End, so the property has already demonstrated demand in more than one format.
The new agreement covers Hill’s full catalogue across six decades: literary fiction, crime writing, children’s books, memoir and radio drama. Her novel The Bird of Night was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1972; her wider honours include the Somerset Maugham Award and the Whitbread Novel Award.
Why this is a library play
John Gore Studios said it will explore the portfolio across film and television, with theatre opportunities where existing rights arrangements allow. That is the core commercial logic: instead of betting on a single sequel or remake, the studio can package different titles, match each property to the right format, and pitch a connected slate to platforms, theatrical distributors and stage producers.
- Proven IP: The Woman in Black has already worked as a novel, a 33-year West End stage production and a $127.7M film.
- Format range: horror, psychological suspense, crime, children’s and memoir spread risk across audiences and buyer types.
- Creator continuity: Hill remains an executive producer and active development partner, keeping the author brand attached to new projects.
For media planners and entertainment marketers, the deal is a reminder that rights acquisitions increasingly look like content pipelines. A buyer is not just acquiring a title; it is acquiring packaging options for streamers, theatrical distributors and stage producers, plus a body of work to talk about between individual releases.
What it signals for Hammer
John Gore told Variety that, after releasing 4K restorations of Hammer’s library, the company is now planning new adaptations of classic monsters including Dracula and Frankenstein. Adding Hill’s catalogue widens that pipeline beyond the monster canon and gives the studio a modern literary anchor.
Hill called the agreement a chance for stories to “continue to find new life.” Gore described the ambition as becoming “a custodian of such an extraordinary body of work” and said the team would approach the material with respect for character, suspense and atmosphere. John Gore Studios COO Anouska Spiers led the acquisition; Chief Creative Officer Francis Hopkinson will oversee development; Spiers will manage portfolio and franchise strategy. Literary agency PFD, led by CEO Caroline Michel, brokered the deal.
For ScreenStat readers, the practical takeaways are clear: track which franchises are being accumulated, watch for bundled adaptation announcements, and price legacy titles against demonstrated demand rather than current chatter.
Source: Variety
