‘Taking Tom Murray Home’ optioned for screen

Sydney-based production company Soft Tread Enterprises has optioned Tim Slee’s novel Taking Tom Murray Home (HarperCollins) for the screen.

Taking Tom Murray Home was the inaugural winner of the Banjo Prize, and tells the story of the Murray family, who embark on a funeral procession from their home in regional Australia to Melbourne following the death of their patriarch.

The film will be adapted and directed by Michael James Rowland (Lucky Miles, The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce) and produced by Jo Dyer (Lucky Miles, Girl Asleep).

Rowland said Slee’s novel is ‘a gift’, describing it as ‘a moving, sharp comedy, which connects country and city in a golden Australian frame’. Dyer added, ‘We are delighted to have secured the rights to Tim’s wonderful book. It is a compelling portrait of community and mateship, of drought and struggle, of poetry and loss, and of the endless capacity of banks for bad behaviour. And it is very, very funny.’

‘Readers and reviewers have frequently commented that Taking Tom Murray Home is a story made for the screen so it’s exciting to see it optioned,’ said Slee. ‘I love Lucky Miles so when Jo told me she was interested and had Michael in mind as writer/director I knew the story would be in excellent hands.’

The adaptation of Taking Tom Murray Home will go into financing in 2021 and production in 2022.

Category: Local news Rights and acquisitions