You are viewing your 1 free article this month. Login to read more articles.
John Murray pre-empts screenwriter MacKenzie’s debut for five figures as TV rights optioned
Lauren MacKenzie’s “compelling, moving and totally believable” debut novel The Couples has been pre-empted for “a good five figures” by John Murray.
Jocasta Hamilton, executive publisher, pre-empted UK and Commonwealth rights to the novel, winner of the Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair 2021, from Grainne Fox at the United Talent Agency. It will be published in July 2023.
The Couples has been optioned by House Productions, producers of “Sherwood” and “Life After Life”, for development as a TV series. The deal was negotiated by Rob Kraitt at Cassarotto on behalf of UTA.
The story follows the fall-out from one wild night in the relationships of three married couples with kids: “When Frank proposed they swap partners, for one night, with no obligations, no expectations, it felt deliciously, irresistibly reckless. All the women had to do was text a man of their choice. The only rule? No falling in love. But life doesn’t follow the rules.”
Hamilton said: “The Couples is the beautiful marriage of a high-concept hook with intelligent, nuanced, emotionally honest writing. Lauren gets to the heart of desire and disappointment, the conflict between commitment and excitement and the challenge of being an individual, as well as a partner and parent.
“Compelling, moving and totally believable, it’s a reminder that love and relationships only get more complicated as you get older. Though this is a first novel, Lauren’s experience as a screenwriter shines through.”
MacKenzie, a screenwriter for TV shows such as “Red Rock” and “The Clinic”, said: “I wanted to write about the mad moments in a life when one acts on impulse. Life is complex and messy; it can take time to understand why we do what we do, especially to those closest to us. And we don’t talk about marriage enough, even to the people we marry. We don’t talk about how marriage is not the end of a love story but only the beginning.
“It was a dream come true being acquired by John Murray. Jocasta Hamilton and her team have been a delight to work with; Jocasta’s enthusiastic support and editorial insight have been incredible. The same goes for my wonderful agent, Grainne Fox of United Talent Agents who first saw the potential of The Couples.”
