Rivers of London, heading for the TV screen?
Nick Frost and Simon Pegg’s UK-based production company, Stolen Picture, has now optioned the rights to Ben Aaronovitch’s fantasy-horror novel series Rivers of London.
Ben is currently working on the adaption of the first novel, also named Rivers of London. Ben plans to serve as an Executive Producer on the series alongside Nick Frost, Simon Pegg and Stolen Picture CEO, Miles Ketley.
Rivers of London was first published in 2011. The crime/supernatural crossover follows the adventures of Peter Grant, a cop who, following an encounter with a ghost, finds himself working for The Folly, a secret Scotland Yard department that deals with supernatural crime.
“Nick Frost and Simon Pegg asked me if I wanted to make Rivers of London with them – you think I was going to say no? Stolen Picture have a reputation for making creator-led TV with the minimum of corporate bollocks and the maximum of fun. It’s an opportunity I would be bonkers to say no to,” Ben Aaronovitch told SFcrowsnest.
Miles Ketley, CEO of Stolen Picture, added, “Ben’s Rivers of London universe is the perfect project for Stolen and the perfect show for now: it’s a suspenseful, funny, scary and magical world but is rooted in the everyday with devious plots, fully drawn characters, river gods and riots. The franchise is going to be a wonderful confluence of Simon’s and Nick’s ambition and humour and Ben’s masterful story-telling to create a truly magical global show.”
This is great news. After I found this series of urban fantasy books I read everyone and pick up the latest when Ben finishes it. I know Pegg acts in most of his projects so am wondering who Peter Grant would be since he is a black man. That part adds some to the story so he really needs to be black. But I’ll be looking forward to the productions.