STOLEN PICTURE OPTIONS TELEVISION RIGHTS TO BEN AARONOVITCH’S RIVERS OF LONDON

STOLEN PICTURE OPTIONS TELEVISION RIGHTS TO BEN AARONOVITCH’S

RIVERS OF LONDON

 London, UK: 29April 2019: Nick Frost and Simon Pegg’s UK-based production company, Stolen Picture, has optioned the rights to Ben Aaronovitch’s best-selling novel series Rivers of London.

Aaronovitch is currently working on the adaption of the first novel, also named Rivers of London. He will also serve as an Executive Producer on the series alongside Nick Frost, Simon Pegg and Stolen Picture CEO, Miles Ketley. 

A Sunday Times best-seller, Rivers of London was first published in 2011, earning Aaronovitch a nomination in the New Writer of The Year category at the National Book Awards in 2011 and has spawned a popular graphic novel series. Each subsequent novel has also charted in the Sunday Times Top Ten Best-Seller list.

The crime/supernatural crossover follows the adventures of Peter Grant, a young mixed race police officer who, following an encounter with a ghost finds himself working for The Folly, a secret Scotland Yard department that deals with supernatural crime. The Times described Rivers of London as “an incredibly fast-moving magical joyride for grown-ups”.The Rivers of London franchise has been published in more than 15 languages and, to date, has sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide.

“Nick Frost and Simon Pegg asked me if I wanted to make Rivers of London with them - you think I was going to say no? Stolen Picture have a reputation for making creator led TV with the minimum of corporate bollocks and the maximum of fun. It's an opportunity I would be bonkers to say no to” says Ben Aaronovitch.

Miles Ketley, CEO of Stolen Picture says “Ben’s Rivers of London universe is the perfect project for Stolen and the perfect show for now: it’s a suspenseful, funny, scary and magical world but is rooted in the everyday with devious plots, fully drawn characters, river gods and riots. The franchise is going to be a wonderful confluence of Simon’s and Nick’s ambition and humour and Ben’s masterful story-telling to create a truly magical global show”.

For more information, contact Public Eye Comms:  Ciara Parkes - ciara@publiceye.co.uk Ellie Norton ellie@publicye.co.uk.

Notes to Editors:

Ben Aaronovitch is an English author and screenwriter. Born and raised in London, Ben worked as a scriptwriter for Doctor Who and Casualty before the inspiration for his own series of books struck him whilst working as a bookseller in Waterstones Covent Garden. His unique novels are the culmination of his experience of writing about the emergency services and the supernatural.  He is represented by John Berlyne at Zeno Agency Ltd.

Stolen Picture is the brainchild of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, created to devise and produce entertainment in line with the unique voice they have developed over twenty years of working together. Created in 2017,  StolenPicture is dedicated to finding and nurturing new voices, up-and-coming talent, sourcing and creating interesting stories across multiple genres, and finding the drama, comedy, charm and challenges in all corners of life.