Matthew Vaughn and Kris Thykier's production company MARV Films has struck a three-year, first-look deal with Quercus Publishing.

MARV will have an exclusive first-look window for all of Quercus' fiction material to consider optioning film rights.

MARV recently produced Vaughn's Stardust and the company also has a new first-look deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment.

London-based Quercus was set up in 2004 by Mark Smith, Wayne Davies, and Anthony Cheetham and the company has now signed more than 30 writers, concentrating on crime fiction. The publisher's stable of authors includes Peter Temple, Stef Penney, Philip Kerr and Richard Stark.

Thykier said: 'We believe that the agreement with Quercus marks a new approach to working with British publishing houses and their authors. Anthony Cheetham, Mark Smith and Wayne Davis have quickly established Quercus as the most exciting publisher in the UK, with particular emphasis on the kind of strong thriller and crime genre material that we believe have a significant opportunity to translate to commercial, quality movies.'

Anthony Cheetham, Chairman of Quercus, added, 'In crime fiction there have always been strong links between book and film. Our new relationship with MARV will, I hope, allow Quercus to play a part in bringing some of the best new talent in crime writing to the attention of an exceptional team of film makers'.

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