EXCLUSIVE: Australias Hopscotch Features has optioned rights to hot debut novel The Ruin from Dervla McTiernan with plans to adapt it for the screen. The crime thriller by the Irish author has been a bestseller in Oz where she now lives. The project was brought to Hopscotch by Head of Production, Maeva Gatineau, and adds to the companys expanding slate of both Australian and international titles.
Set in Galway, The Ruin follows detective Cormac Reilly as he is thrown back into a case from 20 years ago involving two children whose mother died of an overdose. Its a twisting tale that delves into the dark heart of Ireland, examining police corruption and the abuses of the church through the eyes of Reilly — the kind of cop youd trust with your life, and follow to hell and back.
Says Gatineau, “The Ruin is one of the best debut novels weve read — a tensely moving page turner from a crime writer on everyones list to watch. Hopscotch is thrilled to be able to bring Dervlas rich characters and beautifully crafted cinematic world to the screen.”
Literary Agents Curtis Brown presided over a bidding war for Australian and international publication rights. Harper Collins has Australia, Penguin the U.S., and Little Brown the UK.
Hopscotch is currently in post-production on the genre-mashing, sci-fi-horror-comedy Nekromancer, by the Roache-Turner brothers, the Australian filmmakers behind the festival and online hit Wyrmwood. The film stars Monica Bellucci and David Wenham, alongside newcomers Ben OToole (Hacksaw Ridge), Caroline Ford (TVs Once Upon A Time) and Tess Haubrich (Alien: Covenant).
Other upcoming Hopscotch projects include the Lee Miller biopic starring Kate Winslet, and a feature adaptation of Anna Funders All That I Am.
Hopscotch is overseen by producers Troy Lum, Andrew Mason and Master And Commander scribe John Collee. Previous productions include the Russell Crowe-directed The Water Diviner, and Disneys Saving Mr Banks.
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