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The Ink Factory Options David Vann’s Novel ‘Aquarium’

As seen in Deadline Online

Published: 05 Feb 2016

THE INK FACTORY, THE LONDON AND LA-BASED PRODUCTION AND FINANCE COMPANY THAT GOES INTO PRODUCTION SHORTLY ON ANG LEE’S BILLY LYNN’S LONG HALFTIME WALK, HAS OPTIONED DAVID VANN’S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED NEW NOVEL AQUARIUM AND PLANS TO ADAPT IT AS A FEATURE FILM.

Set in Seattle, the book tells the story of Caitlin, a 12-year-old girl who lives alone with her mother, Sheri. When an estranged family member re-enters their lives looking for forgiveness, he offers Caitlin a hopeful future but threatens to expose painful wounds from her mother’s past.

Grove/Atlantic recently published Aquarium in North America. It was selected by Amazon as a Best Book of the Month for March and also an Indie Next Pick. Vann’s books have been published in 20 languages and have won 15 prizes, including best foreign novel in both France and Spain.

Rhodri Thomas will produce for the Ink Factory, with Simon and Stephen Cornwell exec producing. The company is out to filmmakers and is eyeing production to begin in 2016.

Aquarium marks the latest U.S.-set project for the ambitious and fast-growing company. The Ink Factory is in production on Message From The King, starring Chadwick Boseman and Luke Evans, as well as the BBC/AMC six-hour television adaptation of John le Carré’s The Night Manager starring Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston. Fabrice du Welz directs Message, while Susanne Bier directs The Night Manager.

Production on Ang Lee’s Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk is set to start imminently, with TriStar, Film4 and Studio 8 partnering on the project, which stars newcomer Joe Alwyn, Garrett Hedlund Vin Diesel, Chris Tucker and Kristen Stewart.

David Vann is repped by Rob Kraitt at Casarotto on behalf of Kimberly Witherspoon and David Forrer at InkWell Management.