Chloé Zhao's film of Maggie O'Farrell's HAMNET has its UK Premiere at BFI London Film Festival Mayor's Gala

After its world premiere at Telluride Film Festival last month, Hamnet the movie (based on Maggie O’Farrell’s multi award winning novel) had a European premiere at the London Film Festival this past Saturday, sparking renewed Oscar buzz. The film has already won the TIFF People’s Choice Best Film Award as well as the 48th Mill Valley ‘Overall Audience Favourite’ Award.

Directed by Oscar winner Chloé Zhao from a screenplay adaptation co-written by Maggie and Chloe, Hamnet received an emotional round of applause from a packed Royal Festival Hall audience. The film, a gut-wrenching drama exploring contrasting experiences of grief, stars Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal in the lead roles, with Emily Watson and Jacobi Jupe as Hamnet.

The event was introduced  by Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes, alongside producers Liza Marshall, Pippa Harris and Nick Gonda and key cast.

Blake Friedmann’s Head of Film and TV, Conrad Williams, negotiated the adaptation and screenwriting deals for Maggie. Victoria Hobbs at A.M.Heath reps Maggie’s publishing rights etc.

Critical Acclaim for Hamnet

‘This transcendent adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel about the death of Shakespeare’s son will be an Oscar frontrunner’ – The Times

‘Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal excel in stately Shakespeare drama with overwhelming finale’ – The Guardian

 ‘Jessie Buckley delivers a devastating performance in Chloé Zhao’s radically feminine take on Shakespeare’s family life’ – Variety

 ‘Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, and director Chloé Zhao turn Shakespeare’s real-life tragedy into a heartbreaking portrait of love, loss, and the healing power of art’ – Rolling Stone

Abbie Cornish and Dougray Scott sign up to new Deon Meyer adaptation THE INVISIBLE for M-Net and ITV Studios

THE INVISIBLE – a new eight-part miniseries adapted from internationally acclaimed bestselling author Deon Meyer’s novel BLOOD SAFARI – has just been announced, with star casting led by Australian Abbie Cornish (LIMITLESS; THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING MISSOURI) and Scottish star Dougray Scott (CRIME; ENIGMA). The series is a co-production between M-Net, Scene23, Berkeley Media Group (BMG), and ITV Studios, who will distribute internationally.

THE INVISIBLE follows Dekker – a former professional bodyguard – and Emma, an expat who returns to South Africa in search of her long-missing brother, who together get drawn into a deadly game following a spate of vigilante killings in the Kruger National Park.

The series was created by Deon himself, along with William Josef Schneider, who will lead the writing team on the adaptation. The directors are Jozua Malherbe – who also helmed previous adaptations DEVIL’S PEAK and TRACKERS – and award-winning playwright and filmmaker Amy Jephta (BARAKAT; CATCH A KILLER). Joining Cornish and Scott in the cast will be South African talent Kim Engelbrecht, Tim Theron and Tumisho Masha.

‘To say I’m proud, grateful and excited about The Invisible as a TV series is a vast understatement,’ commented Deon. ‘We’ve worked so hard for two years to put the series together, and now, it’s finally going into production with an excellent broadcast partner and executive production team, great writers, a stellar, international cast, a brilliant director and the best film crew in the world. How cool is that?’

About THE INVISIBLE

In the shadow of South Africa’s Kruger National Park, a mysterious killer begins executing local poachers. As the body count rises, local Inspector Jack Phatudi is drawn into a dangerous manhunt to unmask the vigilante.

At the same time, Dekker — a former bodyguard with a haunted past — is hired to protect Emma, a South African expat, who returns home to search for her brother who she believes is still alive, despite his disappearance 20 years ago.

When Phatudi’s investigation collides with Emma and Dekker’s quest, they uncover a buried conspiracy reaching back to the political assassination of a pivotal African leader. As powerful forces close in, all three are forced to confront the explosive truth — one that could rewrite history, and that others will kill to keep hidden.

About Deon Meyer

Deon Meyer lives in Stellenbosch. His books are sold in more than 40 countries worldwide, and have been awarded many prizes around the world: the Deutsche Krimi Prize in Germany, the ATKV Prize in South Africa, the Martin Beck Award in Sweden and Le Grand Prix de Littérature Policière and Le Prix Mystère de la Critique in France. COBRA was shortlisted for the 2015 CWA International Dagger, THIRTEEN HOURS was shortlisted for the 2010 CWA International Dagger, and HEART OF THE HUNTER, was longlisted for the 2005 IMPAC Prize and selected as one of Chicago Tribune’s ‘10 best mysteries and thrillers of 2004’. THE DARK FLOOD was longlisted for the 2023 CWA Dagger for Crime Fiction in Translation, and LEO enjoyed ten weeks at the top of the South African bestseller lists, Number One in all categories, before going on to win Best Adult Fiction and Book of the Year at the 2024 SA Book Awards, and the ATKV-Woordveertjies Prize for best Afrikaans Thriller. His latest novel, SKORPIO, will be published in Afrikaans by Humans and Rousseau in November 2025, ahead of an English-language edition by new publisher Pan Macmillan in late 2026.

Adaptations of Deon’s novels have recently had great success on screen: in April 2024, HEART OF THE HUNTER topped the global Netflix film charts, becoming the first African film to do so, with over 11 million views in its first two days alone. DEVIL’S PEAK was also adapted for a miniseries by Lookout Point and Expanded Media Productions, premiering on M-Net in South Africa in 2023 before reaching audiences in the USA, New Zealand, Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg. In 2020, TRACKERS, produced by Three River Fiction and Scene 23, aired on Sky Atlantic in the UK and HBO in the USA, as well as Australia and New Zealand, and across the Nordic countries and Europe.

Praise for Deon Meyer

‘He’s up there with the best in the world.’ – Marcel Berlins, The Times

‘I love Deon Meyer novels. It’s global storytelling at its best, with the undeniable hallmarks of gritty realism and deep character building.’ – Michael Connelly

‘Deon Meyer's name on the cover is a guarantee of crime writing at its best.’ – Tess Gerritsen

‘Deon Meyer is one of the giants of crime fiction.’ – El Mundo

‘One of the best crime writers on the planet.’ – Mail on Sunday

Visit Deon’s website

Follow Deon on X

TV series PLAN B, adapted from Deon Meyer’s WIE MET VUUR SPEEL, now available on Showmax

Hollywood star Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan) returns to his Afrikaans roots with the crime caper Plan B. 

The story follows ex-military man Ivan Malan (Tim Theron from Heart of the Hunter) and his partner, Paul Schmidt (Vosloo), who plan to rob a gang boss and steal the Flame Maiden, a painting by master artist Vermeer, worth €30 million. 

Meanwhile, Ragel Bergh (Amalia Uys from Die Byl) is swindled out of her inheritance by slick conman Joshua Lansky (Armand Aucamp from Trompoppie and One Piece). When she meets Ivan and Paul, she discovers they all want the same thing…

Filmed in Cape Town and Stellenbosch, the five-part kykNET series is based on the novel Wie Met Vuur Speel by best-selling crime writer Deon Meyer, who was also executive producer on the show. SAFTA winners Jozua Malherbe (Griekwastad, Devil’s Peak) and Tertius Kapp (Gaia) write and direct respectively.

Tomasz Jedrowski’s SWIMMING IN THE DARK reimagined as an opera in Key West, Florida

Tomasz Jedrowski’s ‘modern literary classic’ SWIMMING IN THE DARK is set to make its debut on the opera stage this week, with the premiere of the first act of an adaptation at a developmental staged concert in Key West, Florida on Friday 21 March. Written by composer Martin Hennessy and librettist Stephen Kitsakos, there will be two initial performances of the work-in-progress English-language opera from 21 to 22 March at The Studios of Key West, where they will be joined by Tomasz in person for the premiere.

The adaptation is a collaboration between composer Martin Hennessy, librettist Stephen Kitsakos, and Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music Opera & Ballet Theater. Featuring 18 artists from Jacobs, and directed by Michael Shell, Resident Opera Stage Director at the Jacobs School, the 85-minute Act One will be performed in English by 12 singers and a chamber ensemble.

‘The story unfolds in 1980, as the communist Polish People’s Republic teeters on the edge of collapse,’ said librettist Stephen Kitsakos. “At its heart is a passionate love affair, but it’s also a gripping political thriller set in a country being torn apart by upheaval.’

Tickets for the performances are available from The Studios of Key West website.

First published by Bloomsbury in 2020, SWIMMING IN THE DARK has since become a worldwide sensation, embraced by both critics and new generations of fans on BookTok – including the pop singer Dua Lipa, who picked the book for her Service95 Book Club in May 2024. The novel was a finalist for the Polari First Book Prize in 2021, has so far been translated into eighteen languages, with film/TV, theatre and opera rights all under option for adaptation. It was published in the USA by William Morrow.

Poland, 1980. Shy, anxious Ludwik has been sent along with the rest of his university class to an agricultural camp. Here he meets Janusz – and together they spend a dreamlike summer falling in love.

But with summer over, the two are sent back to Warsaw. Confronted by the scrutiny, intolerance and corruption of life under the Party, Ludwik and Janusz must decide how they will survive; and in their different choices, find themselves torn apart.

Photo: Kuba Dabrowski

About Tomasz Jedrowski

Tomasz was born in West Germany to Polish parents and studied law at Cambridge. He lives in France, exploring local history, national identity, and ecology.

His debut novel SWIMMING IN THE DARK was published by Bloomsbury in the UK and William Morrow in the USA, and has been translated into eighteen languages. Film/TV rights and opera rights have been optioned. The novel was a finalist for the Polari First Book Prize (2021).

Praise for SWIMMING IN THE DARK

‘Marvellous, precise, poignant writing; the reader is happy to be overwhelmed. The highest talent at work.’ – Sebastian Barry

‘A lyrical exploration of the conflict between gay love and political conformity. Jedrowski is an authentic new international star.’ – Edmund White

‘Heartbreak – yes, I’m a romantic – is what we get from Tomasz Jedrowski’s exquisite debut novel, SWIMMING IN THE DARK. Set in 1980s Poland, this love story captivates and is so beautifully written I return to it again and again.’ – Guardian

‘Readers will relish the indelible prose, which approaches the mastery of Alan Hollinghurst. Jedrowski’s portrayal of Poland’s tumultuous political transformation over several decades makes this a provocative, eye-opening exploration of the costs of defying as well as complying with social and political conventions.’ – Publishers Weekly

‘A stupendous read: I could not put the book down. I urge you to order this book now. Its eloquence, its understanding of identity, belonging, loneliness and love is second to none. Powerful and uplifting.’ – Lord Michael Cashman, co-founder of Stonewall

Graeme Armstrong’s bestselling novel THE YOUNG TEAM to be adapted into BBC drama series

THE YOUNG TEAM, a six-part drama series based on Graeme Armstrong’s award-winning debut novel, has been commissioned by the BBC, with Graeme adapting for screen himself. Set and filmed in North Lanarkshire, where Graeme himself grew up, the series will air on BBC iPlayer, BBC Scotland and BBC One at a date to be confirmed.

In THE YOUNG TEAM, 15-year-old Azzy Williams and his pals roam the streets of Airdrie, bottles of Buckfast in hand and techno playing from tinny speakers. Azzy is ready: ready to smoke, pop pills, drink wine and fight. He longs to become fully initiated into local gang the Young Team Posse (YTP). But when Azzy, determined to prove himself, makes a bold move, a brutal gang conflict ensues with Azzy very firmly at its heart. THE YOUNG TEAM will follow Azzy on his journey from boyhood to manhood as he and his mates become postcode warriors in a toxic cycle that threatens to consume them. An unflinching look at the realities of addiction and gang violence, this ambitious series will tell a powerful, visceral story about the realities of life for young, disenfranchised people, and the fight for a different future.

The series will be made by BAFTA-winning independent producers Synchronicity Films (THE TATOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ, Sky Atlantic/Peacock/Stan; MAYFLIES, BBC One), who optioned the TV rights from Conrad Williams at Blake Friedmann. The executive producers are Claire Mundell for Synchronicity Films, Gaynor Holmes for the BBC, and Gavin Smith for BBC Scotland.

THE YOUNG TEAM has had a major impact, not only on readers, but whole communities since it was first published by Picador in 2020, and has been translated into Spanish and Italian. Graeme’s reputation as one of Britian’s most exciting voices has since been cemented by his inclusion on the Granta Best of Young British Novelists list in 2023, and his upcoming second novel RAVEHEART, set to be published by 4th Estate in Spring 2026.

Graeme has previously appeared on the BBC in two documentaries he presented for the broadcaster: SCOTLAND THE RAVE, which aired in 2021, and STREET GANGS, which followed in 2023.

‘I have been working on THE YOUNG TEAM project for 12 years At the beginning, I was only 21 and in the first days of my recovery from a decade of territorial gang violence, substance abuse and addiction. To say it’s been a labour of love is an understatement. Alongside creating a respectful representation of Scottish working class life and the trials of growing up amidst a ‘young team’ gang culture, entrenched for generations, the work on both page and screen has given me the opportunity to reach young people at risk, working in violence prevention to affect change in their lives.

This has been the privilege of my life but it comes with enormous responsibility, as does our task to capture this unique culture on film. The impact of storytelling like this changed my destiny and, ultimately, saved me. The BBC and Synchronicity adaptation will take this legacy to new peaks, creating powerful drama which connects with a current UK audience living under the shadow of rising violence, gangs and blade culture. We understand these profound challenges and are well placed to tell this story through lived experience and a shared commitment to accuracy. The solution lies in the community and that is where this story originated. I cannot wait to get stuck in and see THE YOUNG TEAM brought to life by such a trusted network as the BBC and with the tenacity and absolute passion of my friends and colleagues at Synchronicity Films.’ – Graeme Armstrong

‘Working with Graeme on the adaptation of his staggeringly accomplished debut novel THE YOUNG TEAM is at the heart of what we do at Synchronicity and it’s an absolute honour to watch his brilliance as he starts his screenwriting career,’ said Claire Mundell, Founder and Creative Director of Synchronicity Films.

‘Having explored gang culture in documentary form we’re thrilled to be adapting Graeme’s hit novel and bringing the complex characters to life on screen and showcasing THE YOUNG TEAM gang to viewers around the country. THE YOUNG TEAM has been such a culturally significant novel for Scotland and for the BBC to be the broadcaster bringing this powerful story to television truly is an honour,’ added Louise Thornton, Head of Commissioning for BBC Scotland.

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, said: ‘THE YOUNG TEAM's unflinching and compelling depiction of gang life, inspired by Graeme’s personal experiences, has proven hugely popular with readers since its publication five years ago. We feel privileged that for his first TV drama Graeme has chosen to adapt his book for the BBC, working alongside the team at Synchronicity Films, and we can’t wait to bring Azzy and co to the screen.’

Photo: Robin Farquhar-Thomson

About Graeme Armstrong

Graeme Armstrong is a Scottish writer from Airdrie. His teenage years were spent within North Lanarkshire’s gang culture. Overcoming his own struggles with drug addiction, alcohol abuse and violence, he defied expectation to read English at the University of Stirling. He is currently undertaking a PhD at the University of Strathclyde. Graeme regularly works within the community visiting prisons and schools, giving talks on his experiences of gang-culture and substance abuse. He promotes a message of anti-violence and abstinence-based recovery. His bestselling debut novel, THE YOUNG TEAM (Picador, 2020), is inspired by his experiences. It won a Betty Trask Award, a Somerset Maugham Award, and the Scots Book o the Year 2021.

Praise for Graeme Armstrong and THE YOUNG TEAM

‘Graeme Armstrong is the real deal.’ – Douglas Stuart

‘One of the most admired young voices in British fiction’ – Mike Wade, The Times

‘Gives us a voice from a place – geographically and socio-economically – we don’t often hear from’ – John Self, The Times

‘Armstrong’s hard-hitting novel is TRAINSPOTTING for a new generation’ – Independent

‘A swaggering, incendiary debut… Sharp yet tender and mischievously funny, THE YOUNG TEAM pitches Armstrong straight into the first division of Scottish writers.’ – Jude Cook, The Guardian

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