FIRST GENERATION FILMS CLOSES
DEVELOPMENT DEAL
TO ADAPT JEFF LEMIRE’S BEST-SELLING
GRAPHIC NOVEL
“ESSEX COUNTY”
TORONTO, December 14, 2015 - First Generation Films (FGF) announced today it has
optioned Jeff Lemire’s critically acclaimed and best-selling graphic novel
ESSEX COUNTY to adapt into a scripted television series. Writer Aaron Martin
has been signed to pen the pilot script and showrun the series currently in
development with the CBC.
Based on award-winning cartoonist Jeff Lemire’s much-loved
graphic novel trilogy, published by Top Shelf Productions, this series intricately
weaves the genealogy of a family’s origins across generations. The novel is an intimate study of an eccentric community and a
tender meditation on family, memory, grief, secrets, and reconciliation.
Ted Adams, Chris Staros, Jeff Lemire and Aaron Martin will Executive
Produce along with Christina Piovesan of First Generation Films.
“ESSEX
COUNTY is a vivid and haunting book that has inspired a dedicated and
distinguished following. We are thrilled Jeff has agreed to collaborate with
FGF to bring his vision to the screen” says First Generation Films President
Christina Piovesan.
This
will be the first deal under the direction of Julie Di Cresce, VP scripted
programming. Regarding the project, Di Cresce adds, “With Aaron Martin's wealth of writing
and production experience, we hope to break new ground with this material. We
are excited by his vision for adapting the novel and can’t wait to bring it to
the screen."
ESSEX COUNTY has won multiple
literary awards including the American Library Association’s Alex Award, the
Doug Wright Award, and the Joe Shuster Award.
New
York Times bestselling author Jeff Lemire is currently writing Marvel
Entertainment’s “The Extraordinary X-Men”,
as his original graphic novel series “Descender”
is being adapted into a major motion film by Sony Pictures.
Award-winning
screenwriter Aaron Martin’s previous credits include CTV’s “Degrassi: The Next Generation”, CBC’s “Being Erica”, CTV’s “Killjoys”
and most recently Super Channel’s Slasher”.
Today’s
news comes less than three months after FGF announced the launch of the television
division.
ABOUT FIRST GENERATION FILMS
With a
decade record of success, First Generation Films (FGF) is a leading independent
production company, responsible for award-winning, internationally distributed productions.
FGF is
focused on growth and its commitment to working with the most innovative
creative storytellers from around the world.
