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Goalpost options IVF mix-up novel

Australia’s Goalpost Television has optioned a newly published novel by an Oz author/journalist that is inspired by a real-life case of an IVF laboratory mix-up.

Gannon’s book was published earlier this month

Goalpost’s Rosemary Blight and Kylie du Fresne intend to turn Genevieve Gannon’s novel The Mothers into a TV drama but are yet to assign a screenwriter.

Gannon’s debut novel follows two couples who are being treated at the same fertility clinic. A year later, one of the women learns her embryo was implanted in the other’s uterus.

She then faces a devastating dilemma: live a childless life knowing her son is being raised by strangers, or seek custody of a baby who has been nurtured and loved by another couple.

In a joint statement, Blight and du Fresne said: “When we first read The Mothers, we knew we wanted to be a part of bringing the story to our screens. Genevieve has crafted a compelling and nuanced narrative that asks what defines parenthood today.

“The impossible dilemma the couples face is so rich with ethical, personal and legal tangles and is truly a contemporary story that needs to be told. We are always looking to give a platform to stories with great talent behind them, complex female protagonists and a social heartbeat, wrapped up in entertaining drama – all of which we saw in The Mothers.”

Gannon added: “The cases that inspired the story challenge our very understanding of what it is to be a parent, and the fact that different jurisdictions have had different outcomes shows just how complex the issue is. I had the pleasure of meeting some of the Goalpost team while researching a feature story on their beautiful film Top End Wedding and was so thrilled when I learned they wanted to make The Mothers into a television series.”

North American rights to the novel have just been sold to William Morrow US. Goalpost TV is a division of Goalpost Pictures, with credits including Top End Wedding, TV shows Fighting Season and Cleverman and upcoming Helen Reddy biopic I Am Woman.

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