Denise Mina’s Morrow series to be adapted for TV by ‘Shetland’ lead writer 

Screenwriter and executive producer David Kane, who is the lead writer on the TV show “Shetland”, is developing Denise Mina’s five-book Morrow series (Orion) into a multi-season TV series, set in Glasgow.

Kane and Mina previously worked together on BBC drama “The Field of Blood”, based on her book of the same name, which starred Jayd Johnson, Peter Capaldi and David Morrissey.

Mina said: “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. He’s a funny, brutal, wild writer and I’m honoured whenever our names are put together.”

Kane said of adapting the Morrow series, which follows DS Alex Morrow, a detective who is “characterised by a Glaswegian ‘no-filter’ directness, and an ability to mentally retain and card index the smallest detail from a case”, said: “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.

“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.”

The show, which is not yet attached to a broadcaster, will be jointly executive produced by Mina, Kane and Freedom Scripted creative director Mike Ellen.

Ellen commented: “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 to say she’s got a lot going on. The diverse city we live and work in is 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 glamour, ready to kick off at a moment’s notice!”