Call for Editors or Book Proposals: Monograph or Edited Volume Proposals on Media, Remakes, and Franchise Culture

Vernon Press invites monograph or edited volume proposals for a new series dedicated to Media, Remakes, and Franchise Culture.

Contemporary media landscapes are increasingly shaped by the proliferation of remakes, reboots, sequels, and prequels across film, television, and streaming platforms. From major franchises such as the Marvel Studios universe to the live-action reinterpretations of The Walt Disney Company classics, as well as the expansion of literary sagas like Harry Potter into new serial formats, the industry is witnessing an unprecedented return to existing intellectual properties. These productions attract vast global audiences, mobilize established fan bases, and generate significant economic returns, positioning remakes and franchise extensions as central strategies within contemporary media economies.

This phenomenon raises important questions about originality, creativity, and cultural production. The reliance on familiar narratives and “safe” intellectual properties reflects industrial logics of risk management and profitability, often privileging recognizable brands over innovative storytelling. At the same time, remakes and reboots are not mere repetitions: they frequently introduce new aesthetic approaches, narrative expansions, and updated ideological frameworks, including increased attention to diversity and inclusivity. Moreover, fan communities play a crucial role in sustaining and reshaping these media ecosystems, influencing production decisions and contributing to the circulation of meaning and value.

Scope of the Call

This call is open to proposals that address all aspects of remakes, reboots, sequels, and franchise culture within Media and Cultural Studies.

The scope of the present call is broad. Possible topics include (non-comprehensive list):

• The political economy of remakes and franchise production

• Risk management and the exploitation of established intellectual properties

• Profitability and global media markets

• From comics to the film industry

• Fan cultures, participatory audiences, and transmedia engagement

• Nostalgia and the appeal of familiar narratives

• The tension between originality and repetition

• J.K. Rowling and the Empire of Magic

• Sequels, prequels, reboots, and cinematic universes

• Adaptation and intertextuality in contemporary media

• Diversity, inclusivity, and representational shifts in remakes

• The role of streaming platforms in franchise expansion

• Branding, marketing, and audience loyalty

• The lifecycle and exhaustion of media models

• Cultural memory and media recycling

• Case studies of major franchises and their expansions

• Ethics and politics of revisiting canonical texts

How to submit your proposal

Please submit monograph proposals (approx. two pages) to submissions@vernonpress.com including a summary, a short biographical note and (if applicable) a list of similar titles using this form: Proposal form. More information on what we look for in a proposal is available on our website.

Deadline: November 13th, 2026

About the publisher

Vernon Press is an independent publisher of scholarly books in the social sciences and humanities. We work closely with authors, academic associations, distributors, and library information specialists to identify and develop high quality, high impact titles.