Playground Planning to Adapt The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock

Playground has secured the film and TV rights to Imogen Hermes Gowar’s best-selling debut novel The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock.

Set in 1785, The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock tells the story of Jonah Hancock, a prosperous merchant and widower, whose captain returns having sold Hancock’s ship and cargo in exchange for an extraordinary creature: a mermaid. This mermaid becomes the subject of great curiosity and forges an encounter between Hancock and the desirable courtesan Angelica Neal.

Colin Callender, executive producer and founder of Playground, said: “In the tradition of Wolf Hall and Howards End we at Playground are very excited to bring to the screen Imogen’s remarkable debut novel. We are honoured that she has entrusted us with her gloriously enthralling original story.”

Melissa Gallant, creative director at Playground UK, added: “We instantly fell in love with Imogen’s extraordinary and spellbinding novel. It is such a vibrant and moving love story full of originality and purpose.”