Sony Orders 8-Episode ‘Alex Rider’ Series Based On The Popular Novels
Sony Pictures Television International has picked up an 8-episode order of teen spy series ‘Alex Rider‘ from Eleventh Hour Films it has been announced today.
For those of you unfamiliar with the books, it follows the story of a teenager, Alex, who is blackmailed into joining MI6 after his secret agent uncle (who is also his adopted parent), is killed in a car crash. The government threaten to deport his housekeeper, Jack Starbright, back to America, and sell off his house and belongings unless he agrees to help complete his uncle’s last mission. Reluctantly agreeing, and armed with a bunch of cool gadgets, Alex sets out to take down the bad guys… It’s basically James Bond junior with some teenage Batman sprinkled on top.
The series was originally in development with ITV, but they walked away and Sony swooped in to continue developing the show with Eleventh Hour, who optioned the rights. BAFTA-winning writer Guy Burt (The Borgias, The Bletchley Circle, Tutankhamun) is set to script the series, based on Anthony Horowitz’s hugely popular young adult novels. The plan is to have each season of the show based around one novel in the bestselling Alex Rider series, starting with ‘Point Blanc’, the second book. This is presumably to avoid covering the same ground as the (less than successful) 2006 movie ‘Stormbreaker’, which followed the first novel.
“We identified Alex Rider some time ago as we were looking for the right project to take this leap, and we’re thrilled it has come together as our very first spec series,” commented Sony’s Wayne Garvie, President, International Production.
“So many Alex Rider fans have been asking me when he would be returning to the screen – and I couldn’t be more excited that it’s finally happening,” added Horowitz “Guy Burt has perfectly captured the danger and excitement of the books and I’m sure the series will have universal appeal.”
“I’ve been a big fan of Anthony’s books for years and their combination of adrenaline-fuelled plot lines, cool characters and coming-of-age story make them superb material for adaptation,” responded Burt. “The dangers are genuine, the themes topical and the long-form television format gives me license to go deeper into the world of Alex and the characters that surround him.”
Although ‘Alex Rider‘ is being made by Sony, it doesn’t yet have a network on either side of the Atlantic – Just because Sony is making it, doesn’t mean it’ll end up on one of their channels. We’ll let you know when we hear more.
