Good afternoon: In this edition of the IP Scout, we will cover:
Hot properties: spotlighting the week’s authors whose work is being adapted by major studios/production companies, and who have other novels with strong screen potential.
Festival Favorites: highlighting films at this year’s Venice Film Festival based on books/plays/manga, and sharing other titles by the same author worthy of adaptation.
Bestsellers: the top authors from the top bestseller lists whose work is ripe for Film/TV.
Game: In the wake of The Legend of Zelda getting a live-action adaptation by Sony and director Wes Ball (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes), we have picked a game perfect for adaptation.
Brontë: With Working Title’s new Jane Eyre TV series coming to fruition, I look at a lesser-adapted Brontë novel worth our attention.
Hidden Gem: a spotlight on an unknown book that could make for a phenomenal film.
Before we dive in, some great news…
In the first edition of the IP Scout, we reported on a book, Theo of Golden. At that time, several parties were in negotiations for the rights. That field has narrowed: Warner Bros. is in talks to pick up the book, and Tom Hanks is attached as the lead. Congrats to the team for closing in on the IP for a great book.
Read Edition 1 here: https://theindustry.co/p/the-ip-scout-723
HOT PROPERTIES
Book 1: Miye Lee’s Break Room
Keywords: Series - drama, fictional game show, character study
Synopsis:
Eight unsuspecting people receive an invitation to participate in a new reality show called Break Room. But what starts as an opportunity for fame is quickly revealed to be something far more unsettling when they learn how they were chosen - voted in by their respective coworkers as “the office villain.”
Among them is an imposter - a mole planted by the show’s producers. The only way to win the prize money is to uncover the saboteur before time runs out.
As alliances shift and paranoia festers, the contestants begin to realize that the true challenge isn’t surviving the show - it’s facing their own selves.
Analysis:
Imagine BBC’s The Traitors and Netflix’s The Mole, but with the twist of each contestant being seen as a “villain” in their work life - a premise that brings to mind the cringe-inducing feeling from another show that examines the selfish and villainous sides of everyday people being exposed on camera: A24’s The Curse.
There is a sense of the “death game” genre in this project, a concept we are primed to expect from hugely popular shows like Squid Game and film series such as Saw and Escape Room. However, the “death” here is not a physical one, but the death of one’s perceived self.
This would be a great (fictional, not reality) series, and would be most at home with a streamer that doesn’t produce much reality TV (such as Apple TV), so it can be more cutting with its critique of the format.
Why it’s hot: An entertaining drama series that picks apart the idea of reality TV - Lee’s other book series, The Dallergut Dream Department Store, has been picked up for development, with Patrick Ness (A Monster Calls) adapting.
Book 2: Grady Hendrix’s Witchcraft for Wayward Girls
Keywords: Film - fantasy, witchcraft, teen
Synopsis:
They call them wayward girls. Loose girls. And they’re sent to the Wellwood Home in St. Augustine, Florida, where unwed mothers are hidden by their families to have their babies in secret and give them up for adoption.
Fifteen-year-old Fern arrives at the home in the sweltering summer of 1970, pregnant, terrified and alone. Under the watchful eye of the stern Miss Wellwood, she meets a dozen other girls in the same predicament.
Every moment of the girls’ waking day is controlled by adults who claim they know what’s best for them. Then Fern meets a librarian who gives her an occult book about witchcraft, and power is in the hands of the girls for the first time in their lives. But power can destroy as easily as it creates, and it’s never given freely. There’s always a price to be paid…and it’s usually paid in blood.
Analysis:
In the great words of Donovan, it is the season of the witch. AMC’s Mayfair Witches. Warner Bros.’ Practical Magic 2. And now, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls.
This book would make an excellent film; its coven of teen witches and the price of their power are instantly comparable to the cult '90s film The Craft, starring Neve Campbell. Though the background is grittier, with young girls being forced into exile to give up their babies, it’s this kind of theme that gives power to a witchcraft film - as these stories are often strongest when they examine the power being taken away from women (The VVitch, The Witches of Eastwick, The Love Witch)
I can see this being a perfect adaptation for screenwriter Diablo Cody, who can deftly write about teen pregnancy (Juno) and teen horror (Jennifer’s Body, Lisa Frankenstein) in an entertaining and insightful way.
Why it’s hot: In the land of Mayfair Witches and Practical Magic 2, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls could be the next big witch film. Hendrix’s other novel, The Final Girl Support Group, is being adapted by Christopher Landon (Paranormal Activity).
FESTIVAL FAVORITES
Property 3: James Graham’s The Vote
Keywords: Film - comedic farce, indie, one-location
Synopsis:
The Vote covers the final ninety minutes before the polls close in a polling station in the UK’s general election in 2015. It is a buoyant farce that testifies to the durable eccentricity of the British voting system and also charts the potential for disaster.
The action takes place in a typical primary-school gym that has been hastily converted into a working model of democracy. Two poll-clerks squat behind a desk while the presiding officer (relishing his brief moment of authority) ensures the electoral rules are obeyed.
Farcical disaster arrives with the last voters of the day.
Analysis:
Graham’s other play, Ink, has been adapted by Danny Boyle and is one of the most anticipated films competing for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival next month.
The Vote could be equally great. A tight 90-minute runtime and a one-location shoot? It’s an indie filmmaker’s dream. An adaptation of The Vote reminds me of Hitchcock’s Rope, which is similarly adapted from a play (by Patrick Hamilton), taking place in real time and set entirely in an apartment.
I have personally worked many times in a UK polling station, and I can confirm it is the perfect farcical setting (in fact, I wish I’d thought of the idea myself) - the staggering bureaucracy, the power dynamics between the presiding officer and the poll clerks, and the cast of characters who all decide to vote five minutes before the station closes.
The film’s comedy is sold by its characters. The original cast for the play included Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, BBC’s Dracula), Catherine Tate (Doctor Who) and Nina Sosanya (Screw, Last Tango in Halifax) - these would all be great choices, but for an alternative cast:
Peter Capaldi (Doctor Who, The Suicide Squad) as Presiding Officer
He’s no stranger to comedies focusing on bureaucracy (The Thick of It) and could brilliantly play a civilian hungry for a small ounce of governmental power.Rose Matafeo (Starstruck) as Poll Clerk 1
As an easy-natured, lax foil to Capaldi’s authority.Katherine Parkinson (The IT Crowd) as Poll Clerk 2
As a peacekeeper standing against the most confrontational members of the voting public.
Why it’s hot: A one-location farcical comedy, The Vote would make a big impact. Graham’s other play, Ink, has been adapted into a feature by Danny Boyle, which is competing at the Venice Film Festival next month.
Book 4: Antonio Franchini’s L’abusivo
Keywords: Film - true-crime, mafia, journalism
Synopsis:
The real-life story of Giancarlo Siani, a young reporter in Naples: on the evening of September 23, 1985, Camorra Mafia thugs murdered him at his home. What had Siani discovered? What had he written that was so dangerous it deserved death? Siani had a contract as a correspondent for the Neapolitan daily newspaper “Il Mattino”; but in reality, he worked full-time as an illegal journalist in the hope of getting a job. Franchini, a contemporary of Siani and fellow citizen of Naples, recounts his experience.
Analysis:
This is destined for a gritty crime film exploring a real-life mafia killing - rather than a more sanitized Hollywood epic, this explores the ever-looming presence of the Camorra Mafia in Naples, similarly to Sky Atlantic’s drama series Gomorrah. Unlike Gomorrah, this is a succinct story of one man’s murder that would fit well into a feature film format.
There have been many Italian productions looking into the Camorra - it would be interesting for an American director to try their hand at the story, introducing the topic to a global audience. For this purpose, Abel Ferrara would be perfect; he excels at gritty subject matter (King of New York, Bad Lieutenant) and portraying biographies of Italian figures (Pasolini, Padre Pio)
Why it’s hot: An Abel Ferrara-style movie on the Camorra mafia for a global audience would be an interesting, gritty endeavor. Franchini’s novel Il fuoco che ti porti dentro has been adapted into a film premiering in competition at the Venice Film Festival next month.
Book 5: Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Fire Punch
Keywords: Series - post-apocalyptic, fantasy, manga-inspired
Synopsis:
Fire Punch takes place on an Earth that has become frozen over and barren. The series follows Agni, a young man who is able to regenerate his body. After his village succumbs to inextinguishable flames he is left constantly on fire, leaving him in anguish and vowing to get revenge.
Analysis:
A proposal: rather than adapting a beloved manga into an anime and then remaking that anime in live action, why not just skip a step and take the manga directly to live action? That’s my pitch for Fire Punch.
A cinematic, large-scale series that sees the dark and twisted revenge journey of our flame-engulfed main character - it would be a large production, perfect for a streamer such as Apple TV or HBO Max (both used to large-scale series such as Foundation and House of the Dragon) to rival the Netflix offering. Despite its ambitious scale, it is doable - unlike One Piece, whose manga has 115 collected volumes, Fire Punch has 8 with a distinct end to the series. Combine this with its dedicated fanbase and a strong showrunner - potentially someone like Nick Antosca, who has previously built a reputation running dark thriller/horror series such as Cape Fear and Netflix’s Brand New Cherry Flavor.
Why it’s hot: A Fire Punch live-action series would be a new, gritty offering for the manga adaptation world. Fujimoto’s other one-shot manga Look Back has been adapted into a live-action film, premiering in competition at Venice Film Festival next month.
BESTSELLERS
Book 6: Lisa Gardner’s Touch & Go
Keywords: Series - drama, crime, investigator
Synopsis:
Justin and Libby Denbe have it all: a beautiful daughter; a gorgeous house; a great marriage, admired by all.
Arriving at the crime scene of their home, investigator Tessa Leoni finds no witnesses, no ransom demands, or motive - just a perfect little family, gone.
But Tessa knows that flawless fronts can hide the darkest secrets. Now, she must race against the clock to uncover the Denbes’ innermost dealings, a complex tangle of friendships and betrayal, big business and small sacrifices. Who would want to kidnap such a perfect little family? And how far would such a person be willing to go?
Analysis:
In a similar vein to the 5-season and a movie smash hit Luther, this book, and its subsequent follow-up, Crash & Burn, would make an excellent investigator-led TV series.
The protagonist, Tessa Leoni, is a former state police trooper (and murder suspect) turned private investigator. She’s a tough, complex character who could carry the series in a case-per-season format - starting with the Denbes. From there, the writers can develop further cases for her separately from the novelized material.
Just as Luther needs its Idris Elba, this series needs the perfect actor to play Leoni. Though she’s often known for her wicked comic timing, I think Aubrey Plaza would be perfect for this highly dramatic role. An evolution of her early defensive, loner characters, but with all the emotional complexity we’ve seen from her in projects such as The White Lotus and Black Bear.
Why it’s hot: Touch & Go has the potential to be a Luther-esque crime series centered on a complex female investigator. Gardner’s other novel, You’ll Be Sorry, is a current bestseller.
Book 7: Riley Sager’s Final Girls
Keywords: Film - horror, teen, comedic elements
Synopsis:
Ten years ago, college student Quincy Carpenter went on vacation with five friends and came back alone, the only survivor of a horror movie–scale massacre. In an instant, she became a member of a club - a group of similar survivors known in the press as the Final Girls. Lisa, who lost nine sorority sisters to a college dropout’s knife; Sam, who went up against the Sack Man during her shift at the Nightlight Inn; and now Quincy, who ran bleeding through the woods to escape Pine Cottage and the man she refers to only as Him. The three girls are all attempting to put their nightmares behind them, and, with that, one another.
Now, Quincy is doing well. She has a caring fiancé, Jeff; a popular baking blog; a beautiful apartment; and a therapeutic presence in Coop, the police officer who saved her life all those years ago. Her memory won’t even allow her to recall the events of that night; the past is in the past.
That is until Lisa is found dead in her bathtub, wrists slit, and Sam appears on Quincy’s doorstep. Quincy’s life becomes a race against time as she tries to unravel Sam’s truths from her lies and remember what really happened at Pine Cottage, before what was started ten years ago is finished.
Analysis:
I would be first in line at the cinema on Halloween night to see this movie. It sounds like the perfect teen horror, working within the same genre as the Scream franchise or the Fear Street Trilogy.
Most modern horrors are deadly serious - which is a testament to filmmakers and audiences giving the genre its due. However, it means that when a project comes along that injects humor and fun into the horror, it stands out - as with A24’s hit, Bodies Bodies Bodies.
The question is, do we want to cast classic scream queens or newcomers to the genre? I think a mix, with Quincy being played by certified scream queen Georgina Campbell (The Watchers, Barbarian) and Sam being played by a charismatic, sweet, and (as seen in her well-intentioned Aimee in Sex Education) pushy Aimee Lou Wood (The White Lotus)
The rights to this book were with Universal, though it is now available.
Why it’s hot: A fun, teen horror inspired by the Scream series, perfect for a Halloween release. Sager’s most recent novel, The Unknown, is currently a bestseller.
GAME
Property 8: Team Cherry’s Hollow Knight
Keywords: Series - animation, fantasy, mystery
Synopsis:
Hollow Knight follows a nameless insectoid warrior, as they adventure through a vast ruined kingdom of insects and heroes. As they burrow deeper into this beautifully spooky “hollow,” a mystery about the fall of this old civilization begins to be revealed. A classic, hand-drawn 2D style in a platform format.
Analysis:
Remember Pixar’s WALL-E? It conveys so much, even though its protagonist barely say a word. The same goes for the beautiful, hand-drawn game, Hollow Knight.
This game would make a fantastic animation - aimed at adults and children alike, much like Over the Garden Wall, but an ongoing series rather than a limited one. There’s so much to explore with this story - the worldbuilding is mysterious, with plenty of lore surrounding our protagonist, The Knight, and the fallen kingdom he journeys into. There’s plenty of scope for further seasons, especially by integrating the plot of the sequel game, Silksong.
The classic, hand-drawn style would need to be kept - this would be done by working closely with Team Cherry, especially Ari Gibson, the co-director who is responsible for most of the artwork.
BRONTË
Book 9: Charlotte Brontë’s Villette
Keywords: Film - drama, period, Victorian schoolteacher
Synopsis:
Lucy Snowe flees England and a tragic past to become an instructor in a French boarding school in the town of Villette. There she unexpectedly confronts her feelings of love and longing as she witnesses the fitful romance between Dr. John, a handsome young Englishman, and Ginevra Fanshawe, a beautiful coquette. The first pain brings others, and with them comes the heartache Lucy has tried so long to escape. Yet in spite of adversity and disappointment, Lucy Snowe survives to recount the unstinting vision of a turbulent life’s journey.
Analysis:
Working Title and the BBC are joining forces to bring a new Jane Eyre adaptation to our screens. And while it - and Wuthering Heights - are fantastic stories, it baffles me that other masterpieces amongst the small Brontë family canon are not being explored.
Villette would make a deeply interesting film, with a complicated lead character at the helm - cold, pious, yet somehow endearing, driven and blunt, Lucy Snowe is a protagonist that needs to be introduced to a cinema-going audience. The perfect actor for this would be Morfydd Clark. She has proven her agility with difficult characters (Saint Maud), driven, strong characters (The Rings of Power), and characters undergoing turmoil and anguish (Starve Acre)
I believe the reason this book has not been adapted previously (other than a mini-series in the ‘70s and two radio plays) is that there isn’t a single central romance that the book centers on. Rather, it juggles two romantic interests, both destined to fail - joining the canon of other doomed romance tales such as Past Lives, In the Mood for Love, and Blue Valentine.
HIDDEN GEM
Book 10: T. Kingfisher’s What Moves the Dead
Keywords: Series - horror, gothic, supernatural
Synopsis:
When Alex Easton, a retired soldier, receives word that their childhood friend Madeline Usher is dying, they race to the ancestral home of the Ushers in the remote countryside of Ruravia.
What they find there is a nightmare of fungal growths and possessed wildlife, surrounding a dark, pulsing lake. Madeline sleepwalks and speaks in strange voices at night, and her brother Roderick is consumed with a mysterious malady of the nerves.
Aided by a redoubtable British mycologist and a baffled American doctor, Alex must unravel the secret of the House of Usher before it consumes them all.
Analysis:
An alien hive mind lurking in a cave; dead bodies moved by an alien fungus; a vampiric moth woman.
This sounds like an ambitious episode of Doctor Who, but it’s really Kingfisher’s spine-chilling book series, Sworn Soldier.
Starting with What Moves the Dead (based on Edgar Allan Poe’s 1839 novella, The Fall of the House of Usher) retired soldier Alex Easton is tasked with solving a slew of horrific, supernatural cases.
This could be created as a one-off, in the form of a film or limited series, but it would be interesting to adapt alongside the rest of the books to create a multi-season series. Though the gothic genre has boomed in the film world with Frankenstein, Nosferatu, and Victorian Psycho, it hasn’t reached TV series. This would be a great chance to bring the gothic to the small screen, taking inspiration from series such as Penny Dreadful and The Alienist.
Written by Molly Wise (AI policy: AI is not used to generate our content).
For consulting and/or advertising opportunities email clarke.scott@theindustry.co