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Stolen Picture navigates Rivers of London

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in Hot Fuzz


Stolen Picture, the Sony-backed UK prodco from Shaun of the Dead duo Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, is adapting Ben Aaronovitch’s novel series Rivers of London for television.

Aaronovitch is working on a TV version of the supernatural series’ first novel, also named Rivers of London, and will serve as an executive producer alongside Stolen Picture CEO Miles Ketley plus Pegg and Frost.

The novels, the first of which was published in 2011, follows the adventures of a young mixed-race police officer who encounters a ghost and finds himself working for a secret Scotland Yard department dealing with supernatural crime.

The Rivers of London franchise has been published in more than 15 languages and has sold more than two-and-a-half million copies worldwide.

“Stolen Picture has a reputation for making creator-led TV with the minimum of corporate bollocks and the maximum of fun,” said Aaronovitch. “It’s an opportunity I would be bonkers to say no to.”

Ketley added: “Ben’s Rivers of London universe is the perfect project for Stolen and the perfect show for now: it’s a suspenseful, funny, scary and magical world but is rooted in the everyday with devious plots, fully drawn characters, river gods and riots.

“The franchise is going to be a wonderful confluence of Simon’s and Nick’s ambition and humour and Ben’s masterful storytelling to create a truly magical global show.”

Sony Pictures Television took a minority stake in Stolen Picture two years ago, shortly after it was launched by Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead stars Pegg and Frost.

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