Morrissey to star in new Louise Doughty adaptation

Production company Eleventh Hour is teaming up with David Morrissey to adapt Louise Doughty's Whatever You Love (Faber) for television.

The revenge thriller is based on the Apple Tree Yard (Faber) author’s novel, which follows a mother looking to avenge the death of her nine-year-old daughter, who is killed in a hit-and-run accident. 

The drama is being adapted by Australian screenwriter Blake Ayshford – writer of "Fighting Season" and "Barracuda" – marking his first UK project. 

Morrissey, who most recently featured in "Britannia" and "The Walking Dead", will star and executive produce with Ayshford and Eleventh Hour creative director Paula Cuddy. Doughty is an associate producer on the series. 

Morrissey said: "I am a huge fan of Louise Doughty’s book, and absolutely delighted to be bringing this to screen. It is a passion project for me."

Ayshford said: "Louise’s novel shimmers with dark truths about marriage and the lengths we will go to for love. I’ve always wanted to adapt a story this raw and contemporary and to do it with talents such as David Morrissey and Eleventh Hour Films is wonderful."

Doughty added: "I couldn't be more excited about Whatever You Love making it to the screen. David Morrissey will be terrific as the male lead and I'm already fantasising who might play the plum part of Laura. The adaptation of Apple Tree Yard brought a whole new audience to the book and it would be wonderful if this did the same."  

Kudos’ four-part adaptation of Doughty’s Apple Tree Yard averaged 7.1m (25.6%) in a Sunday night slot on BBC1 in early 2017. 

The deal for Whatever You Love was struck by Rebecca Watson at Valerie Hoskins Associates on behalf of literary agent Antony Harwood. 

Founded in October 2010, Eleventh Hour’s drama slate includes "Safe House" (ITV), "New Blood" (BBC1), "Foyle’s War" (ITV) and "Collision" (ITV).

Faber will publish a TV tie-in edition of the novel when the series airs.