Fox Acquires Tech Thriller 'Influx' (Exclusive)

Daniel Suarez's book will hit stores on Feb. 20.

20th Century Fox has struck a preemptive deal for Daniel Suarez's upcoming tech thriller Influx, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively.

The book -- which will hit stores on Feb. 20 via the publishing house Dutton -- centers on a world in which decades of technological advances have been suppressed in an effort to prevent disruptive change.

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The story follows a character named Jon Grady who comes up with an astounding invention: a device that can reflect gravity. But instead of receiving worldwide acclaim for his innovation, the lab is locked down by a shadowy organization, the Bureau of Technology Control, which aims to shut down technological advances from reaching the public.

No director or writers are currently attached, but Fox recently has been able to pick up darker book adaptations like this one and then attach big-name directors. The adaptation of Gillian Flynn's hit thriller Gone Girl is helmed by David Fincher and stars Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike. It will hit theaters in October. Fox also is handling the adaptation of popular book Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, with Tim Burton attached to direct.

Suarez, a former American information technology consultant, has written three other books, all with a technology angle. His first book, Daemon, was self-published in late 2006 and later picked up and re-released by Dutton in 2009. His follow-up book, Freedom, was released in January 2010, and his third novel, Kill Decision, was released in July 2012. Suarez is repped by ICM Partners.

Email: Rebecca.Ford@THR.com

Twitter: @Beccamford