Lies We Sing to the Sea to be adapted as 'major' film

Film rights to Sarah Underwood’s Lies We Sing to the Sea, published by Electric Monkey, have been acquired by Archery Pictures, with writer Ripley Parker poised to adapt.

The deal was brokered by Emily Hayward Whitlock at the Artists Partnership on behalf of Catherine Cho at Paper Literary for Sarah Underwood and by Charlotte Knight at Knight Hall Agency for Ripley Parker.

Lies We Sing to the Sea is a coming-of-age drama set in Ancient Greece, inspired by the myth of Penelope’s hanged maids. The synopsis reads: “In the cursed kingdom of Ithaca, each spring brings the hanging of 12 young women, a tithe to the vengeful Poseidon. But when Leto awakens from her death on the shore of a magical island, its enigmatic keeper Melantho tells her that she has been chosen by the Gods to break Ithaca’s curse. Leto must return home and kill the prince.”

Parker said of the news: “I couldn’t be more thrilled and honoured to have been entrusted with these characters. To be handed someone else’s story for safe keeping is such a beautiful responsibility, and I only hope I can do it justice. It’s a truly incredible book, and Sarah is obviously prodigiously talented. The world will very soon be clamouring for more of her words. I’m so thrilled to be working with her, and all the wonderful folks at Archery.”

Kris Thykier of Archery commented: “Both Ripley and Sarah are formidable talents. In Lies We Sing to the Sea, Sarah has taken something old and familiar and made it dazzling and new. Ripley’s fresh and original voice was our first and only choice for the adaptation. We feel incredibly honoured and very lucky to be working with them both. They are the very brightest of stars.”