Can a novel be sold to a film company if it hasn't been published?

If the novel had not been published, it could be sold to a film company, but the copyright issue had to be taken into consideration. If the novel was original and the copyright already belonged to him, he could sell the novel to a film company. However, if the novel was borrowed or adapted from someone else's work, or if the copyright was not owned by the author, then selling the novel might involve copyright disputes and legal issues. Therefore, before selling a novel, it was best to understand the relevant laws and regulations to ensure that you had the right to sell the novel. In addition, he also needed to negotiate copyright matters with the film and television company to ensure that the novel could be reasonably adapted and used in the production of a movie or television series.