Prentice Penny To Direct & Exec Produce Adaptation Of Jerry Craft’s Graphic Novel ‘New Kid’ For Universal
Deadline reports that Prentice Penny (Insecure, Uncorked) has signed on to direct an adaptation of the New York Times bestselling graphic novel New Kid for Universal Pictures, tapping Eli Wilson Pelton (Insecure, Bridgerton) to adapt the script. His production company A Penny For Your Thoughts Entertainment has also come aboard to develop and produce the film alongside The SpringHill Company.
New Kid tells the story of Jordan Banks, who experiences culture shock as one of the few kids of color when his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school, struggling both to start over and to fit in. The graphic novel from award-winning author-illustrator Jerry Craft was published by HarperCollins in 2019 and subsequently became the first to win the coveted Newbery Medal, as well as the Coretta Scott King Award.
LeBron James and Maverick Carter will produce for SpringHill, with Craft and Penny exec producing alongside SpringHill’s Jamal Henderson and Spencer Beighley, and A Penny For Your Thoughts’ President and Partner Chris Pollack. Senior Vice President of Production Development, Jeyun Munford, will oversee the project for the studio.
Penny is an award-winning multi-hyphenate best known for his work on HBO’s hit comedy Insecure, serving as showrunner, executive producer and a frequent director of the series. He made his feature directorial and screenwriting debut in 2020 with the Netflix original film Uncorked. He has also contributed to the writing and producing of series including Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Happy Endings, Scrubs and Girlfriends.