By David Prendeville
Local company Element Pictures will once again collaborate with the BBC on another adaptation of a Sally Rooney novel. This time they are set to tackle her first novel Conversations with Friends.
Lenny Abrahamson is once again set to be behind the director’s chair, alongside Hettie McDonald, following their work on the imminent 12-episode adaptation of Rooney’s highly acclaimed Normal People.
The Dublin set novel follows two college students Frances and Bobbi, and the strange, unexpected connection they forge with a married couple, Melissa and Nick.
As reported by the BBC, Abrahamson said of the novel: “I love Conversations With Friends, its depth, humour and freshness, and it’s an honour to be involved in bringing it to the screen. I’m particularly happy that my connection to Sally and her work is set to continue. Making Normal People has been a singular pleasure and I’m excited to be working with the same brilliant team again on Conversations With Friends.”
It has also recently been announced that RTE are set to screen Normal People some time this Spring. The highly-anticipated show stars Daisy Edgar Jones, Paul Mescal and Sarah Greene. The show follows the romantic relationship between a couple from their teenage years in Sligo to their time together in Trinity College.
Rooney adapted her own novel for the screen, alongside Alice Birch and Mark O’ Rowe. Rooney’s novel has picked up numerous awards including Book of the Year at the British Book Awards 2018, and has been lavished with almost unanimous praise by critics.
As reported by RTÉ, Ed Guiney of Element Pictures, said of the dramatization: “All of us at Element feel so privileged to be part of adapting Sally’s extraordinary novel, working once again with the brilliant Lenny Abrahamson.”
Normal People is an Element Pictures Production for BBC Three and Hulu in association with Screen Ireland.
An exact release date has yet to be announced.
