Authors First, a book-to-screen studio and distribution platform, today announced it has come out of stealth mode and raised over $10 million in a seed round led by leading early stage investor Brand Foundry and company founder Robert Hamwee, with participation from notable entrepreneurs and angel investors including Bolt Ventures – The Family Office of David Blitzer, Andy Mills, Mike Duggal, and John Kline. The studio’s first book-to-screen adaptation is “Genghis: Birth of an Empire,” created in collaboration with bestselling author Conn Iggulden, who had ultimate creative control and final-cut approval to bring the book to life as he always imagined it.

“As a lifelong fan of historical fiction, science fiction, and fantasy epics, I’ve always believed the definitive version of any story is in the author’s imagination,” said Hamwee, Founder & CEO of Authors First. “We built Authors First to give them full creative control and modern tools so production budgets no longer dictate what’s possible on screen. For readers and fans, there’s nothing better than seeing a beloved world brought to life exactly as the author intended – without compromise.”

Authors First is helping to create the definitive version of the story that first existed in the author’s mind. The studio collaborates directly with authors across the entire process from character design and scripting to storyboarding and virtual cinematography. Through its human-led, AI-enabled production capabilities, the company is able to greenlight ambitious historical fiction, sci-fi, and fantasy adaptations that budget constraints would typically prevent traditional studios from pursuing. In addition to Iggulden’s novels, upcoming projects include Peter F. Hamilton’s “Pandora’s Star” as well as adaptations of bestselling books from David Ball and R.A. Salvatore. For fans, this unlocks a true “watch the book” experience, adapting their favorite books in ways they never thought possible.

With the development of “Genghis: Birth of an Empire,” famed British historical fiction author Iggulden worked with a team of over 30 production artists to guide narrative arcs, camera angles, character dialogue, score, and visual details. The creative artists at Authors First then used AI and other technology to bring the author’s vision to life. By replacing costly on-site shoots, CGI, and green screens with emerging technology, the team was able to execute difficult cinematic shots with relative ease – from tracking an arrow mid-flight to epic battle scenes on snowy hillsides. “Genghis: Birth of an Empire” will be available to purchase soon on the Authors First platform and other leading digital platforms through the company’s Filmhub distribution relationship.

“Without Authors First, bringing ‘Genghis: Birth of an Empire’ to the screen was impossible – believe me, I tried,” said Iggulden. “It would have taken significant capital and years of filming on location across thousands of miles of remote Mongolian landscape. Readers finally get to experience history’s greatest rags-to-riches story exactly as I’d always envisioned it: uncompromised, epic, and true to the written word.”

Authors First is led by a team of seasoned executives across entertainment and emerging technology, bringing decades of collective experience from Amazon, Hulu, Paramount, Sony, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., Epic Games, and more. Having marketed and distributed some of the most beloved literary adaptations, including Dune, The Lord of the Rings, and DC Comics, the leadership team merges deep Hollywood roots with technical prowess to bring bestselling novels to the screen.

For more information, visit authorsfirst.com.

About Authors First

Authors First is a book-to-screen studio and distribution platform bringing beloved literature to life with authors in the director’s chair. By pairing human artistry with AI-enabled production tools, Authors First gives authors creative authority and shared upside to deliver authentic film and television adaptations. The company is led by an experienced team across the entertainment and emerging technology sectors and has raised over $10 million in a seed round led by leading early-stage investor Brand Foundry and company founder Robert Hamwee, with participation from notable entrepreneurs and angel investors Bolt Ventures – The Family Office of David Blitzer, Andy Mills, Mike Duggal, and John Kline. For more information, visit authorsfirst.com.

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