Lionsgate options Oneworld's Dark Pines

Lionsgate, the producers of "Orange is the New Black" and "Mad Men", has optioned television rights to Will Deans' Dark Pines (Oneworld).

Executives Steve November and Sarah Conroy acquired TV rights from James Carroll at Diane Banks Associates on behalf of Kate Burke, for a multi-part, returnable television series centred around the lead character Tuva Moodyson.

The TV deal follows news at the end of last month that Oneworld’s literary crime imprint Point Blank has acquired three more Tuva Moodyson novels in a "substantial" six-figure deal, in advance of the "highly anticipated" sequel Red Snow in January 2019.

November said: "Dark Pines has it all – an original, gripping crime story, an evocative, cinematic setting and, most importantly, in Tuva Moodyson a vivid, complex and compelling character whom viewers will love."

Dean said: "I’m thrilled with Dark Pines being optioned by Lionsgate – it’s a dream come true. I’m a huge fan of Mad Men and Orange is the New Black so this is incredibly exciting."

Dark Pines garnered numerous author endorsements and widespread national reviews, with the Guardian describing it as "memorably atmospheric, with a dogged and engaging protagonist… a compelling start to what promises to be an excellent series". Book rights have been sold in Germany with offers expected in other territories. 

Dean grew up in the East Midlands but, after working for years in London, now lives in rural Sweden with his wife and son after building a wooden house in a forest clearing.