Grisham’s The Testament Headed to Big Screen

John Grisham is a lawyer, so of course he writes books about lawyers. Usually lawyers being chased by bad guys with guns, cause what’s so fun about watching lawyers, you know, talking in courtrooms? Throw in a guy with a gun and you got tension, action, and shootings. Those are always good things in a thriller. In the case of Grisham’s “The Testament”, it’s lawyers running around (probably from guys with guns) in the wetlands of Brazil. Hey, could be worst, he could be running from snobby rich people in the OC, right?

Variety reports that the movie rights to Grisham’s “The Testament” has been sold to producers Mark Johnson and Hunt Lowry, with Lowry having previously produced the author’s “A Time to Kill”. Apparently the lawyer-turned-novelist has been gunshy about selling his books to Hollywood, but decided to do so again thanks to some fan urging. Of course, I’m sure the six-figure option money and promises of more cha-ching when the movie moves forward probably didn’t hurt, either.

In 1999’s bestselling “The Testament”, a billionaire defies his greedy relatives by leaving his $11 billion fortune to an illegitimate daughter that’s doing charity work down south in the Brazilian wetlands. (Cause, obviously, she’s caring and junk.) When those dirty, spoiled relatives come gunning for the inheritance, the daughter gets assist from a down-and-out lawyer. I’m guessing guys with guns show up at one point to chase her and the lawyer through the wetlands, cause if not, well, it’s gonna be a pretty boring movie.

Mark Johnson and Hunt Lowry will produce the adaptation with 821 Entertainment.

Below: Yeah, but does Henry Leyva do the female characters, too? Cause, you know, that’s kinda weird…