Amazon Says 'Roll 'Em'

Amazon.com(AMZN Quote), which recently stunned investors by entering the low-margin grocery business, now is making its first foray into the movie business.

The largest Internet retailer recently optioned the screen rights to Keith Donohue's best-selling fantasy novel The Stolen Child, according to Variety.com. Amazon now is looking to find a filmmaker and studio partner, the trade publication says.

Amazon's foray into the movie business is unusual. Companies outside of Hollywood such as Starbucks(SBUX Quote) have gotten involved in films through marketing agreements, but they don't normally get involved in helping get the project off the ground.

Amazon's show-business ambitions are well known. Earlier this year, it launched a talk show on its site hosted by comedian Bill Maher. Media reports also have mentioned the company has ambitious plans to sell downloadable videos. Amazon has declined to comment on its digital-media strategy, and a spokeswoman couldn't immediately be reached Friday. ...