New Pictures options Sarah Govett’s The Territory

Production company New Pictures has optioned the TV and film rights to Sarah Govett’s YA novel The Territory (Firefly Press).

The Territory is a fantasy thriller set in a future Britain where unflooded land is scarce. Teenagers must pass an exam at 15 to stay in ‘The Territory’ or be exiled to the disease-ridden Wetlands but the system is skewed to favour rich kids, who can upload information through a Node in the back of their neck.

Elaine Pyke, one of the founders of New Pictures, struck the deal with from Casarotto Ramsay & Associates, which was acting on behalf of the Jane Turnbull Agency.

“I’m really excited that New Pictures wanted to option the rights because they have such a great feel for teen entertainment and I think they will do a fantastic job visualising the dystopian storyline of The Territory,” said Govett. “I wrote The Territory in order to highlight the environmental and educational challenges that teenagers are facing today, so I’m delighted about the prospect of seeing the books come to life on TV.”

New Pictures was the executive producer of Netflix’s "The Innocents" and producer of BBC One’s "Requiem" and "The Missing".