Toronto-based New Franchise Media, headed up by former TEDCO boss Jeffrey Steiner, has unveiled a film and TV slate deal with popular British novelist Jeffrey Archer.

Steiner, a former head of TEDCO, which leased the Toronto portlands property on which the mega-studio Filmport, now called Pinewood Toronto Studios, was built, has inked a deal for the worldwide film, TV and digital rights to ten popular Archer novels.

In an announcement timed to coincide with the Toronto International Film Festival, Steiner optioned the action and drama book titles his New Franchise Media shingle, an IP rights-development company.

“We look forward to developing these exceptional literary properties across film and television to excite Jeffrey Archer’s enormous worldwide fan base and new audiences alike resulting in productions with that must-see factor,” Steiner, president and CEO of the private company, said.

The slate includes an action/crime-caper story at the script stage entitled False Impression which is anticipated as an international co-production.

An action-spy thriller trilogy is also part of the slate as adaptations of Archer novels A Matter of Honour, Honour Among Thieves and The Eleventh Commandment.

“I’m enthusiastic to see my novels move toward development as film and digital productions. Like any author, I am keen to see my books made into films, giving me the opportunity to reach an even wider audience,” Archer said in a statement.

Also on board New Franchise Media is Mark Romoff, and Dianne Schwalm, a Warner Bros Canada exec, who now serves as vice president of partnership development.

New Franchise Media will be partnering with international producers and financiers to develop the Archer properties as film and TV projects, as well as lining up internationally-known actors to top-line the projects.