Conker Footage Lands Eloise Rodger’s Novel ‘Dying’s A Bitch’

EXCLUSIVE: Banijay-backed Conker Footage has acquired rights to the debut novel from Eloise Rodger, Dying’s a Bitch.

Following what was referred to as “an extremely aggressive worldwide course of,” Kim Varvell and Tommy Bulfin’s manufacturing home will adapt the guide right into a TV sequence. The plan is to take the present to each the UK and worldwide markets.

Rodger’s upcoming debut novel, which is because of publish in 2027, has been directing chatter in worldwide circles, resulting in the public sale.

Billed as a “coming-of-age novel with a excessive idea twist,” Dying’s a Bitch comes from 22-year-old London-based author Rodger, who wrote the guide in her closing 12 months at Trinity School Dublin, the place she was a scholar of English literature – a put up that has beforehand been held by the likes of Samuel Beckett. She was co editor-in-chief of Icarus, the oldest arts journal in Eire, the place she printed new work from Simon Armitage and Lucy Caldwell.

The guide follows Aggie, whose youthful sister, Marcie, has been unwell for over a 12 months and on a unending waitlist. When Dying gives Aggie a job that can permit Marcie to dwell, she readily accepts.

Bulfin and Varvell, Joint CEOs of Conker, which is a part of Banijay UK, mentioned in an announcement: “We’re completely thrilled to have secured the rights to Eloise’s first novel after a fiercely aggressive course of. It’s a really excellent debut novel; daring, intelligent, humorous and a narrative which offers with vastly necessary coming-of-age themes in a means that’s each extremely compelling and emotionally satisfying. Eloise is a complete star and an distinctive expertise; we’re past excited to work together with her in bringing her superb guide to the display screen.”

Rodger added: “I’m fully delighted that Dying’s A Bitch has discovered such good properties, with Louisa Joyner and Jordan Pavlin and the fantastic groups at Faber and Knopf. I do know the display screen adaptation is in equally sensible palms at Conker Footage, with Kim Varvell and Tommy Bulfin,” added Rodger.

“It’s an absolute dream to see the story I’ve been writing since I used to be sixteen come to life, and I actually couldn’t really feel any luckier or extra honoured. I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to my literary agent Eleanor Birne, and movie and TV agent, Emily Hayward Whitlock, who’ve guided me each step of the best way and championed the guide from its first chapters. I hope that Dying’s A Bitch would possibly contribute to our conversations round psychological well being and rising up, and in some small means, be a supply of sunshine.”

The mission is a significant one for Conker, which launched again in April 2023 with minority backing from Banijay UK, as we revealed on the time. Its founders rely credit on the likes of Line of Obligation, Regular Folks, Unhealthy Sisters and Des amongst them.

The deal for Dying’s a Bitch was backed by Banijay Leisure’s Scripted Fund and scouted by Hannah Griffiths, Head of Diversifications for Banijay UK. The deal was negotiated by Emily Hayward Whitlock at The Artists Partnership.