Toronto-headquartered Blink49 Studios has inked a partnership with North American literary management company Transatlantic Agency to develop and produce original content for the international marketplace.

The joint venture will see Blink49 have access to the roster of book authors and IP at Toronto-based Transatlantic, which represents more than 800 clients, to develop and produce original projects using Blink49’s studio, production and distribution operations.

Blink49 and Transatlantic will serve as coproducers on all projects developed and produced through the deal, with Blink49 serving as the lead studio, according to a news release.

Blink49 and its L.A.-based anchor investor and lead strategic partner, Fifth Season (formerly Endeavor Content), will also get a first look for international distribution rights.

The deal is billed as the first of its kind in Canada, “with a direct pipeline from the publishing industry to Blink49’s domestic and international studio infrastructure,” said the release.

The partnership is similar to one Blink49 formed last November with Vanguarde Artists Management, and “represents a growing and complementary relationship with representation businesses that will provide support and opportunities to literary talent to bring their stories to screen,” added the release.

Transatlantic Agency is headed by president and literary agent Samantha Haywood, and has agents based in Boston, New York, Portland and Toronto.

In January 2022, the agency launched a division devoted to book-to-screen adaptations, with Laura Cameron taking on the inaugural role of in-house TV film agent in the newly formed Media & TV Film Division.

John Morayniss, CEO, Blink49 Studios said Haywood, Cameron and the rest of the Transatlantic team “represent some of the bestselling authors and storytellers working in Canada, the U.S. and internationally,” in a statement.

“By fostering a close-working relationship, we’ll provide Transatlantic clients with significant opportunities and upside to bring their stories to a global television audience,” he added.

Haywood said the joint venture creates opportunities for their “author and screenwriter clients to have greater ownership in their work and influence over book adaptations, which is increasingly important to the artists we represent.”

“Before we started this conversation, we saw from multiple projects we have in development with Blink49 that John and the team bring vast experience, global perspective, and that secret sauce of hustle and commitment to getting great projects off the ground,” Haywood added.

“We will always seek out the best creative alignment through our robust network of coagents and production partners in addition to offering this unique avenue for our clients to retain a financial stake in the stories they create.”

Photos, L-R: John Morayniss, photo courtesy of Blink49 Studios; Laura Cameron, photo by Eva Grace; Samantha Haywood photo by Jamie Morren.