Buccaneer to Adapt The Chalk Man

Buccaneer (Marcella, Irvine Welsh’s Crime) has picked up the adaptation rights to C.J. Tudor’s thriller novel The Chalk Man, with Hans Rosenfeldt (The Bridge, Marcella) signed on as screenwriter.

The book sees Eddie “Munster” Adams and his four friends begin leaving messages for each other around town with chalk, an idea they got from their new teacher, nicknamed the Chalk Man. It’s all fun and games until the chalk drawings begin taking on a sinister note and eventually lead them to a dismembered body in the woods.

Two of Tudor’s other novels, The Burning Girls and The Drift, have already been adapted by Buccaneer. Rosenfeldt worked on The Burning Girls adaptation.

Richard Tulk-Hart, joint CEO of Buccaneer, said, “We’re naturally delighted to be developing another of C.J.Tudor’s gripping novels, particularly as The Chalk Man is her celebrated debut work. We’re excited to be once again marrying C.J.’s compelling storytelling with Hans Rosenfeldt’s world-class screenwriting to create another premium screen thriller for audiences around the world.”

“The Chalk Man was the book that started it all for me, so it has a special place in my heart,” Tudor said. “I couldn’t ask for a better team than Buccaneer and the brilliant Hans Rosenfeldt to adapt it for screen. I know they’ll produce something amazing.”

Rosenfeldt added, “I love C.J. Tudor’s books and I’m so glad that I get the opportunity to adapt another one of them. I’m really looking forward to bringing The Chalk Man’s exciting twisty plot and interesting characters to the screen together with the great people at Buccaneer.”