Former WWE Superstar April “AJ Lee” Mendez memoir titled “Crazy Is My Superpower” will be developed into a television series. Mendez made the announcement on her twitter account, which you can see below:
Proud to share, Emmy nominated producers EUE/Sokolow & Jeff Fisher will develop #CrazyIsMySuperpower for TV! Now, more than ever, it is vital that women tell their own stories. That’s why I’m proud to work on this project as a writer & executive producer: https://t.co/Ue3HJ52Yeh
— AJ (@TheAJMendez) December 19, 2017
The following press release regarding the plans to develop the memoir into a television series was issued. You can read the entire press release below:
“GENIUS” EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS TO DEVELOP AJ MENDEZ’S NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER “CRAZY IS MY SUPERPOWER”
LOS ANGELES, December 19, 2017—EUE/Sokolow, an Emmy-nominated production company behind Nat Geo’s “Genius” franchise, and producer Jeff Fisher are bringing AJ Mendez’s New York Times Best Seller “Crazy is my Superpower: How I Triumphed by Breaking Bones, Breaking Hearts, and Breaking the Rules” to television. The bestselling book chronicles former WWE wrestler AJ Mendez’s unlikely rise to stardom after growing up in poverty and enduring years of abuse. Mendez will serve as an Executive Producer and writer on the project.
“Crazy is my Superpower” intricately details Mendez’s harrowing struggle to understand her demons and the mental illness diagnosis that helped her gain control over her life, and how she harnessed that strength to become an internationally-beloved professional wrestling superstar (known as AJ Lee). The three-time WWE champion fought against stereotypes, forced the men in her industry to view her with respect and inspired millions of fans with her fierce independent streak.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to work with this team to turn “Crazy is My Super Power” into a scripted show,” said AJ Mendez. “This is a story about the power of female strength and our incomparable ability to survive, persist and overcome. I knew that I would need partners that connected to that message, and Jeff and Sam’s bold vision was a perfect fit. I can’t wait to get started.”
“Jeff Fisher initially talked to me about this book and told me what an amazing story this woman had,” said Sam Sokolow, co-founder of EUE/Sokolow and executive producer of National Geographic’s first-ever scripted series “Genius.” “We’re so excited to get to work with AJ and tell her incredibly inspiring story.
The book was originally released in hardcover, ebook and audiobook (narrated by Mendez) by Crown Publishing, April, 4, 2017 and will debut in paperback April, 3, 2018. Mendez is represented by literary agent Lisa Leshne at The Leshne Agency and attorney Alan Sacks at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz.
Recently, EUE/Sokolow produced “Genius,” with the series first season following the life of Albert Einstein with Academy Award winners Geoffrey Rush starring as Einstein and Ron Howard directing the pilot episode. Season One of “Genius” was recognized with ten 2017 Emmy nominations including Best Limited Series. “Genius” has been renewed for a second season and will follow the life of artist Pablo Picasso.
Beverly Hills-based EUE/Sokolow focuses on premium television programs including dramas, limited series, comedies and documentaries.
EUE/Sokolow is repped by CAA. Jeff Fisher is repped by Gersh.
Details and terms of the deal were not disclosed.
