Anthony McCarten, the Oscar-nominated writer of “The Darkest Hour” and “Bohemian Rhapsody,” has sold the rights to “Going Zero” to Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. The novel is described as a high concept thriller. McCarten will then adapt and produce the novel for the screen.

“Going Zero” certainly sounds of the moment. McCarten’s novel will explore such pressing issues as privacy, surveillance, the power of big tech and government overreach. In the book, the CIA in partnership with a Silicon Valley wunderkind have created the ultimate surveillance program known as Fusion.

Ahead of its rollout, ten Americans have been carefully selected to Beta test the groundbreaking system. At the appointed hour, each of the ten will have two hours to “Go Zero”—to turn their cellphones off, cut ties with friends and family, and use any means possible to disappear. They will then have 30 days to evade detection...