New Empire Pictures develops Sarah Winman’s TV adaptation of her wartime novel Still Life

L-R: Liz Trubridge, Matt Barber and Sarah Winman

New Empire Pictures (NEP), the London production and development joint venture founded by Downton Abbey producer Liz Trubridge and actor, writer and producer Matt Barber, has secured the rights to adapt Sarah Winman’s best-selling novel Still Life.

A TV project is said to be in advanced development, with Winman adapting her own book alongside co-writer Lewis Georgeson (Dream Team).

Still Life tells the story of an unlikely friendship between British soldier Ulysses Temple and an alleged spy in Tuscany, Italy, during the Second World War.

The deal was negotiated by Emily Hayward Whitlock at The Artists Partnership in association with Robert Caskie at Robert Caskie Ltd.

Barber, CEO of NEP, said: “This is the first project we are announcing from our slate of diverse and exciting material. It’s an immense privilege to be developing this with Sarah herself and we are very excited about the quality that this team and project promise to deliver.”

Trubridge, executive producer at NEP, said: “It is a great pleasure to be working with Sarah and Lewis on the adaptation of this special novel. A story of people coming together at a time when there is so much uncertainty and a celebration of a family of friends, old and new, sharing a dream.”