EXCLUSIVE: Amazon MGM Studios has ordered a pilot based on Charlie Bone’s YA/children’s fantasy novels.
The ten fantasy novels in the popular series were written by British author Jenny Nimmo and published between 2002-2010. The franchise also includes a prequel trilogy and two follow-up books.
Filming is underway in the UK on the pilot, starring Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaid’s Tale), Carmem Ejogo (The Penguin), Emma Sidi (Fascinated), Orlando Norman (Shipwreck), Beth Alsbury (Blind spot), Lewis Brophy (The Virtues), Brazilian singer and actress Giulia Be (Beyond the Universe), Olivia-Mai Barrett (Invasion), Fisayo Akinade (Ear cutter) and newcomer Cory McClane in the role of Charlie Bone.
Currently untitled, the pilot set is announced by UK-US production and management company 42.
The novels follow Charlie Bone, a boy who has always been labeled ‘problem’. He was expelled from every school in London. But he can’t help it – his brain just doesn’t work like other people’s. He has been haunted by ‘The Noise’ ever since his father died mysteriously. His last chance comes when he is sent to Bloor’s Academy, a school for defiant teenagers. Here, pioneering director Dr. Bloor (Fiennes) sees things differently – he is convinced that what others see as flaws are actually undiagnosed gifts, even a kind of superpower. Bone must negotiate friendships, passions, hormones, family dramas and, most dangerously, a dangerous conspiracy within the system.
We hear the pilot has aged out of the books and will be part of the YA genre.
The EPs are Rory Aitken and Eleanor Moran for 42. The EP writer is Max Gill. The director and EP is Toby MacDonald, while the co-EP is Miriam Brent. Roopesh Parekh (Willow tree) produces.
42 is known for series including The girl before, The English game and the sunken boat reboot as well as movies Military Wives It is The mail.
