Sony Pictures snaps up the film rights to James Islington’s Hierarchy series. It marks one of the biggest book deals of 2025.
The move comes as the second book, The Strength of the Few, opens at No. 1 on the New York Times best-seller list. The novel debuted Nov. 11 in the U.S. through Saga Press. TikTok and YouTube pushed it even higher. It hit No. 1 in Canada and landed on top best-seller lists in the U.K. and Australia.
No producer or filmmaker is attached.
A World of Magic and Power
Set in a Roman Empire-inspired world ruled by magic and control, the story follows Vis, a young man who guards a deadly secret. He investigates a mysterious death while infiltrating a brutal regime that feeds on the Will, a source of mental and physical energy taken from the masses.
Vis uncovers a chain of conspiracies. Each one pulls him deeper into a rebellion that could shatter the world. His fight for survival becomes a battle against a system built on exploitation. Power, truth, and loyalty all become weapons.
Islington’s Rise
Islington began writing while working in the tech world. His first series, The Licanius Trilogy, built a dedicated fan base. Book one, The Shadow of What Was Lost, was self-published before he landed a full publishing deal for the remaining volumes in the Hierarchy series.
The Sony acquisition marks another major leap in his growing career.
