CTVS, ITV Studios adapt sci-fi novel Austral

LA prodco Circle of Confusion Television Studios (CTVS) is collaborating with ITV Studios-owned Big Talk Productions to adapt Paul McAuley’s sci-fi novel Austral for TV.

Elise McCredie

Elise McCredie will write the script for the series, with Erik Skjoldbjaerg set to direct. Shooting will take place in Norway to represent the Antarctic.

The young-adult novel tells the story of a future where humanity is forced to live in the Antarctic due to climate change. The main character, the criminal Austral, is forced to flee captivity across the wilderness after taking a teenage girl hostage.

Both McCredie and Skjoldbjaerg are executive producers. CEO Kenton Allen exec produces for Big Talk, as do Luke Alkin, formerly head of drama at the UK’s Channel 4 and MD Matthew Justice. Exec producers for CTVS are partner Lawrence Mattis and executive VP and head of creative affairs Russ Buchholz.

CTVS was launched in 2017 as a joint venture between Circle of Confusion, an LA production company most famous for The Walking Dead, and ITV Studios America, the LA-based production arm of UK broadcaster ITV.