Eleventh Hour to Bring Ian Rankin’s Rebus Novels to TV

Eleventh Hour Films has secured the rights to the complete catalog of Ian Rankin’s Rebus detective novels.

Writer Gregory Burke (’71, Entebbe and Black Watch) is attached to adapt the books for the small screen. The move coincides with the 30th-anniversary celebrations of the release of Rankin’s first novel featuring the detective. The best-selling Rebus series has sold over 30 million copies worldwide.

For Eleventh Hour, this flagship drama is the first announcement to launch the new TV drama slate driven out of Scotland as overseen by the company’s recently appointed head of development, Mike Ellen.

Rankin said: “I’m so thrilled and honored that Gregory Burke is bringing his outstanding storytelling talent to Rebus. As far as I’m concerned it’s the perfect match, allowing the character of John Rebus to emerge in all his complex three-dimensional glory.”

Burke added: “It is an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to work on adapting an iconic character like John Rebus for television. As someone who has grown up and lives in South East Scotland, Ian Rankin’s best-selling books provide the perfect material to make a thrilling series about crime in the modern world.”

Executive Producer Jill Green commented: “We approached Greg because we knew he would do something really different and characterful. This will be a fresh and revisionist take in every way introducing both Rebus and Edinburgh to a new generation, at a moment where crime drama is at its most exciting level.”