Permut Presentations & Merkaba Media Group Acquire ‘Nowhere Girl: A Memoir Of A Fugitive Childhood’
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EXCLUSIVE: Permut Presentations and Merkaba Media Group have acquired the rights to Cheryl Diamond’s Nowhere Girl: A Memoir of a Fugitive Childhood which follows the author’s true story of being born a fugitive.
By the age of nine, Diamond had lived in more than a dozen countries, on five continents, under six assumed identities. She was home-schooled by her parents who were evading law enforcement and constantly on the run. While frequently changing identities and moving to different continents/countries was the norm for her growing up – as she got older, she began to realize that her life itself might be a big con. Surviving required her to escape from her family.
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The team are currently exploring writers and directors as possibilities in adapting this story as a series.
Oscar nominated Hacksaw Ridge producer Permut tells us, “I was riveted by this gripping true story and feel Cheryl’s memoir has all the components of a unique and thrilling series offering a great role for a lead actress in the lead.”
Merkaba Media Group founder Paulina Michaels adds, “From the opening pages of the Nowhere Girl, I was utterly captivated. What struck me the most was the raw courage Cheryl displayed in sharing her life story. Her bravery didn’t just inspire me; it ignited a newfound strength within my own soul. I felt not only deeply touched but also fiercely empowered, realizing that stories like Cheryl’s have a truly singular transformative impact.”
This marks the first collaboration between Permut and Michaels. Permut Presentations Director of Development, Alex Astrachan will serve as co-producer.
Permut is known for bringing true stories to either the big screen or TV. In addition to Oscar nominated Hacksaw Ridge, he has the forthcoming Netflix movie, Rustin, which he executive produced, dropping on Nov. 3. Rustin follows the life of civil rights activist Bayard Rustin with Coleman Domingo starring and George C. Wolfe directing. In addition on Nov. 5, Permut as an EP has the Taylor Sheridan new series, The Lawman: Bass Reeves debuting on Paramount+. The series stars David Oyelowo as Bass Reeves, the first black sheriff in the wild west.
Other upcoming projects for Permut include Oscar winner Sian Heder’s next film, Being Heumann, adapted from Judy Heumann’s bestselling book, and Sheela at Amazon starring Priyanka Chopra with Barry Levinson set to direct. Also on the horizon is the sequel to Permut’s classic blockbuster Face Off which Adam Wingard is in active development on at Paramount.
Merkaba Media Group, founded by Michaels, counts a presence in Los Angeles, Buenos Aires and soon, Dubai. Merkaba’s next film, produced alongside Ardvella Entertainment, is the psychological thriller, Odium, by award-winning writer/director Annika Pampel, an Academy Nicholls Semi-Finalist, who was recently named as one of the top 25 writers to watch by the International Screenwriters Association. The production is set to commence in January, in accordance with the SAG-AFTRA Interim Agreement.
Diamond is represented by John W. Beach and Kevin Cleary at Gravity Squared Entertainment.
Michaels is repped by Michelle Chang at Ramo Law
Permut Presentations is repped by John Tishbi at Pearlman & Tishbi, LLP
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