Freedom Scripted Adapting Alex Morrow Books for TV

Freedom Scripted is developing Denise Mina’s five-book Alex Morrow detective series into a multi-season TV show.

Shetland lead writer David Kane is on board to adapt the novels, which follow DS Alex Morrow, who is formidable at solving crimes but can’t face talking to her husband due to recent trauma. Kane and Mina previously worked together on The Field of Blood.

Season one, titled Still Midnight, sees Morrow paired with Bannerman, the son of a leading cop. As the pair investigate an attack and abduction on a South Asian family, questions arise about whether their ambitious boss really has their backs.

The series is not yet attached to a broadcaster, but will be executive produced by Mina, Kane and Freedom’s Mike Ellen.

“You’d be hard pressed to fit a Rizla between my writing and Davie Kane’s, and I’m well aware that I’m bigging myself up in saying that,” Mina said. “He’s a funny, brutal, wild writer and I’m honored whenever our names are put together.”

“I’m very attracted by the opportunity to present a version of modern multicultural Glasgow, but one that doesn’t shy away from the city’s past,” Kane said. “It is different, more diverse, but still has that dark underbelly of crime. The criminals and the police know each other, sometimes they mix socially, and with Alex Morrow and her half-brother Danny, we take it even further—they’re family. It is such rich territory for a writer. And most of all, I love Denise Mina, and adapting her work feels very natural to me. I can find the voice of her characters easily and always enjoy doing so.”

Ellen, managing director of Freedom Scripted, added, “We”re thrilled to be bringing the formidable talents of Denise and Davy back together. Morrow promises to be one of the most complex and exciting detective characters brought to screen; suffice it say she’s got a lot going on. The diverse city we live and work in is the one of the best in the world to set a propulsive crime thriller, and it’s been ridiculously underused for this genre in recent years. This will be Glasgow with grit and glamor, ready to kick off at a moment’s notice!”