Eruption: James Patterson finishes Crichton passion project

Michael Crichton's widow asked bestselling author James Patterson to finish his volcanic thriller.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchRegisterSign InHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUK General ElectionIndia ElectionUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC VerifySportBusinessFuture of BusinessTechnology of BusinessWork CultureInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherEruption: Steven Spielberg approached to adapt new Crichton-Patterson novel 14 hours agoLeisha Chi-Santorelli,BBC News Culture, @BBCLeishaSharePenguin Random HouseJames Patterson is one of the world's best-selling authorsJurassic Park author Michael Crichton died from cancer over 15 years ago - now, his unfinished "passion project", about a humanity-threatening volcanic eruption, has been completed by fellow literary giant James Patterson and is already generating heated interest in Hollywood.

Eruption takes readers on a thrilling journey through Hawaii's biggest island, which, unbeknown to its residents, hides dangerous military secrets dating back decades.

There has been no formal screen auction yet - but Sherri Crichton, who discovered her late husband's unfinished manuscript over a decade ago and controls his estate, told BBC News she was now in talks with Steven Spielberg about a possible big-screen adaptation.

Crichton's earlier works, such as Twister, Westworld and ER, have sold for huge amounts, making him one of the world's most successful book, film and television writers - even in death.

"We have an incredible amount of interest," Patterson told me in a joint interview with Sherri, "including five or so stars who've raised their hands, a lot of filmmakers, studios.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2xx1yvp3x0o

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