Rights sales: Screen
Australia is set to star in a number of screen adaptations as international and local producers tap into talent down under.
Brad Pitt is set to star as protagonist Fred Scully in the film adaptation of Tim Winton’s novel The Riders (Penguin). Produced by Scott Free Productions, the film is set to be directed by Edward Berger (Conclave), while David Kajganich (Bones and All, Suspiria, The Terror) has written the script. The Riders was first published in 1994 and was shortlisted for the 1995 Booker Prize. Winton, who is the author of over 30 books, has said it is the ‘most cinematic of all [his] novels’. The story follows ‘Fred Scully, his wife and seven-year-old daughter Billie, who have been travelling together in Europe for two years’, said Winton’s literary agent Jenny Darling. ‘They bought a cottage in Ireland where they plan to settle, and which Scully has renovated by hand. On the day Jennifer and Billie are due back in Ireland after selling their house in Australia, only Billie arrives, traumatised and speechless, unable to tell her father what has happened or why her mother put her on the plane alone. The story follows Scully and Billie as they frantically retrace their steps throughout Europe, trying to find Jennifer and work out why she left them.’ Filming is set to begin in early 2026, across various locations in Europe.
Melbourne-based film company Princess Pictures is adapting Tanya Scott’s crime novel Stillwater (A&U) as a feature film. Stillwater follows the story of Jack Quinn, ‘whose mother died of an overdose when he was eight, and his father was an armed robber’. ‘After being groomed since childhood by Gus, a brutal crime boss who recruited him, Jack gets out and grows a new identity, becoming Luke Harris. But as he puts himself through university and aims for a real future, Luke is confronted with his past as Gus resurfaces,’ said Variety. Stillwater was set to be released by A&U in Australia on 29 July and by Grove Atlantic in the US on 12 August. Scott is represented by UTA and Tom Gilliatt at a4 Literary.
Production company Made Up Stories (Nine Perfect Strangers, Strife) is set to produce a television adaptation of The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth (Macmillan). The Soulmate follows Pippa and Gabe in their seemingly perfect marriage and life by beachside cliffs. Unfortunately, the cliffs are popular with those wishing to take their lives, and Gabe is known for talking them down. Mystery and secrets come to light when he fails to save the eighth person to make an attempt. Hepworth’s most recent publication, Darling Girls (also Macmillan), was also optioned by Made Up Stories last year. Hepworth is repped by CAA and Rob Weisbach Creative Management.
Joanna Jenkins’ How to Kill a Client (A&U) has been selected for the Dynamic Television Scripted Initiative. The story, which follows ‘corporate high-flyer’ Gavin Jones’ murder (and the partners of a law firm who become suspects in the trial), receives $100,000 in development funding ($50,000 from Screen Australia and $50,000 from Dynamic Television). Previous recipients of the initiative include the short film Fox Hunt and crime novel Dark Mode by Ashley Kalagian Blunt (Ultimo).
Miramax president of film Alexandra Loewy has acquired film rights to the new novel Ruins (A&U, July) by Melbourne-based author Amy Taylor. The novel will be adapted into a feature film starring and produced by both Vanessa Kirby (through her production company Aluna Entertainment) and Sebastian Stan, reported Deadline Hollywood. Screenwriters and a director were yet to be confirmed at the time of reporting. Ruins follows ‘a couple whose affair with a young Greek woman over the course of a summer in Athens threatens to crack their relationship open in a story about privilege and power, desire and intimacy,’ according to the publisher.
Melbourne-based filmmaker Tim Sharp has acquired the film option to Wayne Marshall’s short story ‘A Night Out’ from Marshall’s debut collection, Shirl (Affirm Press), via Martin Shaw at Shaw Literary. ‘A Night Out’ depicts a man who begins a romantic relationship with a kangaroo. Sharp said, ‘We’re excited to commence development on a film adaptation of this amazing original story by Wayne Marshall that deftly mixes Aussie iconography, male insecurity and surreal fantasy into a one-of-a-kind tale.’ Sharp plans to release a short-film adaptation of the work.
Category: Think Australian rights
