Are there agents who specialize in selling existing books for film rights?

[tbrosz]

I have three books that have been out for some time. Two are self-published, and I am having trouble identifying any legitimate channels where an existing book can be marketed for film rights.

Are there agents who specialize in this? Taking an already published book and selling film rights for it (for the usual percentages)?

My third book is published by a small publisher who already handles film right sales.

 

[Cyia]

You need to find someone who handles sub-rights. (Taryn Fagerness is the one that comes to mind, but they specialize in foreign rights, not media rights.)

However, unless there's been a lot of interest in your book(s), you're not likely going to get much traction, since specialized agencies generally work for other *agencies* rather than individual writers. And if there has been that level of interest, you'd likely have agents / publishers interested in republishing the work via commercial channels.

If you know how to write the script / treatment yourself, you can always try to sell it yourself.

 

[Brigid Barry]

I retained my film rights and had the same question not long ago.