MrBeast teamed up with Alex Cross author James Patterson to co-write a thriller novel with Squid Game-like elements, according to a report from Deadline. The upcoming book, which doesn’t have a title yet, has reportedly fetched eight-figure bids for the publishing rights.
The book’s logline, which reads, “Players fight to survive deadly tests held in dangerous locations around the world, as they battle to become ‘The One,’” sounds exactly like something the popular YouTuber, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, would be involved in.
MrBeast has leaned into the Squid Game genre as of late, with many of his viral YouTube videos revolving around various games and challenges, like pitting 100 kids against 100 adults, and having a YouTuber battle royale. He most recently worked with Amazon’s Prime Video to debut the competition reality show Beast Games, which had contestants compete for $5 million in reportedly questionable conditions.
Sources tell Deadline that the film and TV rights to the novel are also already being shopped. Patterson has become known for collaborating with authors like Candice Fox, Maxine Paetro, JD Barker, and others. He even worked with former President Bill Clinton to pen the book The President Is Missing.