Fantasy Author Jennifer L. Armentrout Moves Into Reality TV With ‘The Key’

The Romantasy fiction genre is one of the hottest trends in publishing right now with the success of A Court of Thorns and Roses author Sarah J Maas and Iron Flame author Rebecca Yarros.

These books not only sell well but have become huge on TikTok with billions of views of related content.

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This has lead Jennifer L. Armentrout, author of the Blood and Ash series of novels which has attracted over 100 million views on BookTok, to combine romantasy and reality.

Armentrout has struck a deal with L.A-based production company Panopticon Media to develop a new reality series set in the world of fantasy storytelling.

The Key mixes a challenge competition with romance. The format sees 15 contestants inhabit a village where they’ll live and compete in immersive, themed challenges for priceless keys. The keys are used to buy luxuries, woo potential romantic partners and build alliances, all in a bid to unlock a lifechanging fortune.

The project will be pitched at Content London next month by Beatrice Rossmanith, founder of Mothership Media Consultancy. Gersh’s Laura McDonald handles U.S. rights and negotiated the deal on behalf of Panopticon, Kevan Lyon at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency and Lucy Stille at Lucy Stille Literary Agency.

Armentrout said, “To create a show like The Key in which real people live out their own adventures in the Romantasy world that I love is very exciting. I am looking forward to taking this next step into storytelling that blurs the lines between fiction and reality.”

Hugh Wright, President at Panopticon added, “Jennifer has employed her legendary world-building and storytelling skills to craft an extraordinary reality format that combines romance, fantasy and adventure in a world we have never seen before in reality TV. The Key is pure escapist wish fulfillment that is sure to captivate her millions of fans and viewers around the world.”

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