Middleton to make movie of ex-CIA officer’s tale

The Middleton Media Group has announced it has optioned the bestselling biography, Breaking Cover, by former CIA officer Michele Rigby Assad as well as the life rights of Rigby Assad and her husband, Joseph Assad.

John Powers Middleton (The Disaster Artist, Manchester by the Sea) and Alex Foster (Sleepless) will produce for The Middleton Media Group, Adam Ciralsky and P3 Media will executive produce along with Luke Franek.  Michael Russell Gunn (The Virginian) is penning the script.

Newlyweds Michele and Joseph Assad were training to become elite undercover intelligence officers in the CIA’s Directorate of Operations when the towers fell on 9/11. Though most spies are solo acts, the Assads — as a tandem couple — found themselves hunting terrorists and managing a marriage in the world’s most unforgiving places. The film will highlight a true, extraordinary humanitarian mission that the pair hatched and executed — secretly rescuing hundreds of refugees from the clutches of ISIS.

BC was published earlier this year by Tyndale Momentum and has become a bestselling sensation.  As a counterintelligence operative, Rigby Assad recounts how she served in both declared and undeclared war zones, reveals the art of keeping secrets — while skillfully persuading others to reveal theirs — and divulges how she lived a double life while striving to be trustworthy enough to carry out the nation’s most sensitive tasks. 

BC tells her story of unfettered sacrifice amidst ruthless attacks and seemingly unconquerable challenges, as the world’s most sinister and indomitable enemy helps her uncover what matters most.

Speaking, Middleton and Foster said, “Michele and Joseph Assad have left such a positive impact on the world through their work both as humanitarians and within the CIA. Their missions have always been driven by their passion, and we’re thrilled to have a part in sharing their extraordinary story. Breaking Cover reveals a layer of the world that we don’t ordinarily get to see, and Michele has harnessed her vast political knowledge, understanding of the region, and natural gifts as a storyteller to craft a memoir that feels like a thriller. We’re excited to be partnering with the talented Michael Russell Gunn on the script and can’t wait to bring this incredible true story to audiences everywhere.”

The Middleton Media Group is the development, production and finance company of Middleton and Foster. Focusing on prestige material with worldwide commercial appeal, the company was founded in 2016 and has been ramping up a robust slate of projects including the cold war spy thriller A Most Dangerous Man with Studio 8, Seth Gordon’s inspirational drama, Life in Rewind, and the biopic on visionary computer pioneer Grace Hopper among others. 

Middleton's credits include Manchester by the Sea, The Disaster Artist, The LEGO Movie, The LEGO Batman Movie, The LEGO Ninjago Movie, Spike Lee's Oldboy, Run All Night, The Boy, Sleepless and A&E's Bates Motel.

Gunn, who is currently a supervising producer on Showtime’s Billions, will serve as screenwriter for the project. He previously worked on HBO’s The Newsroom, ABC’s “Designated Survivor” and Starz’s Black Sails.

His 2015 Blacklist script, The Virginian, sold to New Line with Jason Dean Hall directing, and his Cold War-era thriller, Price of Liberty, is in development with Participant Media and Tribeca Film.