Already filmed as a three-part TV series, masquerading as three TV movies,* David Peace‘s Red Riding novels are now set for a Hollywood adaptation, written by Jamie Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt is a writer on the upcoming Amazing Spider-Man, and the chap who wrote the script for Zodiac. Like that film, Red Riding tells a based-on-facts crime story, and it’s even set in a similar period and portrays similar crimes.
Peace was inspired to write these four books about the Yorkshire Ripper, and the context of his crimes, by his real-life desire to solve the case when very young. What he’s created, however, is very literary, and seems more concerned with an underlying emotional truth than being any sort of chronicle.
Can’t really guess how Vanderbilt has got the gig when Tony Grisoni did such sterling work in adapting the books for TV. Perhaps Grisoni was approached and didn’t want to be involved.
You may recall that Steve Zaillian had previously agreed to write this adaptation, but I guess he’s busy with the Millennium films for David Fincher, and it’s also possible he’d consider this sort-of similar gig as a bit repetitive, particularly right now.
According to Heat Vision, Ridley Scott remains attached to direct. He’s a great choice, and I’m sure he’ll create the compelling and effective atmosphere with ease. He’s also from the North of England, where the events in the novel take place – though, of course, his birthplace of Tyne and Wear is rather different from Yorkshire in many respects.
*They were given some theatrical screenings in the US by IFC.