Victoria Aveyard has sold more than 8 million copies of her YA fantasy epics, but her latest move signals a shift toward the adult market. Before her new novel Tempest even hits shelves this September, Chernin Entertainment has secured the rights to adapt the book for television.

It is a high-stakes bet on an author who has already proven her ability to build massive, multi-book franchises. While her previous series, Red Queen and Realm Breaker, solidified her standing in the YA space, Tempest marks her debut in adult fantasy. The project is the first installment of The Lyrian Sea duology, a pirate-themed saga set against the backdrop of a collapsing Golden Age of Piracy.

The Business of Building Franchises

Chernin Entertainment, the studio behind Apple’s See and Truth Be Told, is positioning Tempest as a centerpiece of its development slate. Peter Chernin and Tracey Cook are set to serve as executive producers alongside Aveyard. Rachel Moore will oversee the project for the studio, which has been aggressively expanding its footprint in high-concept genre television.

For Aveyard, the deal is a continuation of a long-standing interest from Hollywood. Her Red Queen series remains in development at Peacock, with Elizabeth Banks attached to produce in association with Warner Bros. Television. The fact that Tempest was snapped up so quickly suggests that studios are increasingly looking to lock down established literary brands before they even reach the public.

A Pivot to Adult Fantasy

Tempest is described as an epic adventure centered on a former noblewoman caught between the pressures of empire and the chaos of rebellion. The narrative tension is built around a classic trope—duty versus desire—but set within the brutal, high-stakes environment of naval warfare.

In the current television landscape, where fantasy series require massive budgets to replicate the scale of Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon, the choice of a pirate-themed setting is notable. It offers a distinct visual identity that separates it from the high-fantasy forests and castles that have dominated the genre for the last decade.

What Comes Next

Chernin Entertainment has been on a productive streak, recently producing the feature Backrooms and readying a slate of Netflix projects including Age of Innocence and The Body. Adding Tempest to their roster gives them a potential anchor franchise that bridges the gap between Aveyard’s existing YA fanbase and a more mature audience.

While the book is not yet available, the rapid acquisition indicates that the industry is betting on Aveyard’s ability to translate her commercial success into a more adult-oriented tone. The next phase for the project will be the search for a showrunner and a writing team to translate the novel’s scope into a serialized format.

Key Takeaways

  • The Deal: Chernin Entertainment has acquired the rights to Tempest, the upcoming adult fantasy debut from best-selling author Victoria Aveyard.
  • The Scope: The project is the first book in The Lyrian Sea duology, a pirate-themed fantasy set during the fall of the Golden Age of Piracy.
  • The Track Record: Aveyard’s previous works, including Red Queen and Realm Breaker, have sold over 8 million copies, making her one of the most bankable authors in the fantasy genre.

With the book’s release scheduled for September, the focus will now shift to the development of the pilot script. The speed of this deal suggests that Chernin is looking to move quickly, aiming to capitalize on the momentum of the book's launch to secure a series order.