ITV orders Daphne du Maurier drama The Scapegoat

ITV has ordered a one-off drama based on Daphne du Maurier’s novel The Scapegoat. The film will be produced by Island Pictures and distributed by Content Media.

The Scapegoat will air on UK commercial broadcaster ITV’s main channel, ITV1, next year and have a theatrical release thereafter.

The novel has been made into a movie before, with the 1959 adaptation starring Alec Guinness and Bette Davis.

The new version will star Matthew Rhys (Brothers and Sisters) and Eileen Atkins (Gosford Park). It follows a lonely academic who meets his double and changes places with him, with terrible consequences.

Island Pictures is the UK indie set up last year by Dominic Minghella (Doc Martin) and Sarah Beardsall (Four Weddings and a Funeral) and The Scapegoat is the fledgling company’s first production.

Beardsall said: “This is our calling-card, and a statement of intent – to produce film and television with the highest of ambitions.”

Jamie Carmichael, president of Content Film added: “We believe The Scapegoat’s combination of a stellar cast and outstanding production team, alongside Daphne du Maurier’s wonderful and timeless story-telling is sure to bring this feature enviable international success.”