Lenny Abrahamson, the acclaimed Irish director who famously brought Sally Rooney’s bestselling novel “Normal People” to TV screens (igniting the careers of both Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones in the process), has turned his attention to another beloved author: David Nicholls.
Variety understands that Abrahamson will direct a TV adaptation of Nicholls’ 2024 novel “You Are Here,” once again for the BBC, which co-produced and aired “Normal People” and Abrahamson’s follow up “Conversations With Friends” (based on Rooney’s debut novel).
“You Are Here” — which Variety hears will start shooting in July — also reunites Abrahamson with Element Pictures, the Fremantle-backed Irish powerhouse production company that he’s collaborated with throughout his career.
The BBC, Element and Fremantle all declined to comment.
Much like Nicholls’ hit novel “One Day” (which has been adapted for film and, more recently, TV), “You Are Here” is a romance centering on two protagonists. However, this time the pair — Michael and Marnie — aren’t twentysomethings, but middle-aged and lonely divorcees who find themselves brought together on a long-distance walking trail across northern England by both a persistent mutual friend and some very unpredictable weather. Over the course of 10 days and 200 miles, they discover exactly what they’ve been looking for.
Alongside “One Day,” Nicholls has seen several his novels adapted for screen. “Starter For 10” was made into the 2006 film starring James McAvoy, while “Us” became a four-part series, again for the BBC. Nothing is confirmed, but given that Nicholls wrote the screenplays for “Starter for 10,” the “One Day” film and episodes of the series and “Up,” there’s a high chance he’ll be involved in “You Are Here” as well.
Speaking to the BBC in 2024 around the book’s launch, the said there had been some discussions about an adaption, but that it was “hard one, because it’s outside in the English weather, and a lot of it is very internal and unspoken and you have to find a way to put that onscreen.”
Nicholls has also been involved leading the adaptation of Sue Townsend’s classic “The Secret Diary of Adrien Mole Aged 13 3/4” for the BBC.
“You Are Here” marks the latest work for Abrahamson with Element, which he’s worked alongside since his 2004 debut feature “Adam & Paul.” Since then, alongside “Normal People” and “Conversations With Friends” for TV, there have been films include “Frank” and “Room,” which landed a number of Oscar nominations and saw Brie Larson win best actress. He’s recently been shooting his latest as-yet-untitled feature for Element and A24, starring Tom Burke and Eve Hewson and set within Dublin’s Jewish community in the late 1970s.
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