Grisham Removes `Rainmaker’ From Shower Of Money

Less than 48 hours after John Grisham’s new novel “The Rainmaker” officially went out to Hollywood, the author stunned producers and executives last week by abruptly withdrawing the book from the market.

No explanation was given for the about-face, which came just two days after the book was sent to a select group of producers.

At least two offers had exceeded the $6 million threshold set by Grisham’s representatives, sources said. One offer apparently came from Grisham’s “The Pelican Brief” director Alan Pakula. Another, higher offer came from producer Peter Guber, reportedly for $8 million-plus.

Guber could not be reached for comment. However, an assistant issued a statement noting: “He is not in negotiation on the John Grisham book at this time. He has no plans to be in discussion or in negotiation on the book.”

Grisham’s sudden about-face came out of the blue and baffled many Hollywood agents and producers.

If the book had sold, it could have marked a record for Grisham, surpassing the $6 million that was paid for the rights to his last novel, “A Time to Kill,” and coming close to the record of $9 million that Robert Halmi Sr. paid for “Scarlett,” the sequel to “Gone With the Wind.”

Whatever the outcome, the bidding appears to have vindicated both Grisham and his agents, who had been aiming for $8 million to $10 million, according to sources, despite word around town that the book was not up to Grisham’s previous standards.

“The Rainmaker” focuses on a group of law school students in the South, one of whom takes on the case of an old-age pensioner who sues an insurance company for fraud.

The book will be published by Doubleday in the spring.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Stephen Galloway The Hollywood Reporter