Eleventh Hour detects Rankin’s Rebus

The UK production company behind series such as Foyle’s War has picked up the rights to Ian Rankin’s best-selling Rebus detective novels and hired a screenwriter to adapt them for TV.

Eleventh Hour Films is teaming up with screenwriter Gregory Burke (Black Watch) to develop the novels, which follow DI John Rebus, for the small screen.

The deal coincides with the 30th anniversary of the first novel featuring the detective. The books have gone on to sell more than 30 million copies worldwide and have already been adapted for television by ITV.

The flagship drama will be the first on Eleventh Hour’s new Scotland-driven TV drama slate, which is being overseen by the company’s recently appointed head of development, Mike Ellen.

Rankin said: “I’m so thrilled and honoured that Gregory Burke is bringing his outstanding storytelling talent to Rebus. As far as I’m concerned, it’s the perfect match, allowing the character of John Rebus to emerge in all his complex, three-dimensional glory.”

Burke added: “As someone who has grown up and lives in south-east Scotland, Ian Rankin’s best-selling books provide the perfect material to make a thrilling series about crime in the modern world.”

Executive Producer Jill Green said: “We approached Greg because we knew he would do something really different and characterful.

“This will be a fresh and revisionist take in every way, introducing both Rebus and Edinburgh to a new generation at a moment when crime drama is at its most exciting level.”

The Rebus novels were adapted for television by ITV between 2000 and 2007, first produced by Clerkenwell Films and starring John Hannah and later by STV Productions and starring Ken Stott.