Universal Pictures has acquired rights to the novel “Microserfs,” written by Douglas Coupland (“Generation X”). On board as the film’s producer is Judith Regan, president of the Regan Co. and ReganBooks (the Harper Collins imprint that published the novel). The deal is unusual given that Harper Collins is a division of News Corp., which owns 20th Century Fox.
The story is about a group of misfit computer programmers at Seattle-based computer software giant Microsoft. The story follows the programmers in their search to “have a life” in the fast-track world of new technology. It’s not clear if the studio has the right to use the Microsoft trademark for the film or if they will be working in conjunction with the company owned by Bill Gates.
