‘The Night Manager’ Writer David Farr Developing Adaptation Of Sci-fi Novel ‘The Midwich Cuckoos’ For Sky
‘The Night Manager’ and ‘Hanna’ writer David Farr is developing an adaptation of John Wyndham’s classic sci-fi novel ‘The Midwich Cuckoos’ for Sky it has been revealed. You may not know the novel, you are probably familiar with the movie versions, which were filmed as ‘Village of the Damned’.
The novel is set in 1950s rural England where a strange incident in the village of Midwich leaves all the women of child-bearing age pregnant. When the children are born, they appear normal, except for unusual, golden eyes, light blonde hair and pale, silvery skin. As they grow older, they begin to show strange powers, and it becomes apparent they may not be of this Earth…
According to Deadline, who broke the news, Farr is set to write the eight-part adaptation, which comes from ITV backed indie studio Route 24 and Snowed-In Productions (‘Mrs Wilson’). ‘The Midwich Cuckoos’ has been adapted twice before on film as ‘Village of the Damned’, the first being from Wolf Rilla in 1960, and a second time by legendary horror director John Carpenter in 1995. There have also been various radio adaptions and audiobooks over the years. Wyndham’s other most famous novel, ‘The Day of the Triffids’, has also been adapted multiple times for tv, film and radio.
No news yet on what stage ‘The Midwich Cuckoos’ is at right now, or when it is likely to be broadcast, but it is currently pencilled in to film this Autumn (assuming the global pandemic allows it to happen!) so it’ll be at least 2021 before we see it on screen. We’ll let you know when we hear more.
