Fremantle works up TV adaptation of Find the Good

FremantleMedia has teamed up with author Heather Lende to develop a drama series based on her book, Find The Good.

Fremantle’s global drama director, Sarah Doole and executive VP and creative director of global drama Christian Vesper (pictured) have acquired the rights and will oversee the rollout of the adaptation.

The book will serve as the inspiration for a TV drama about a small-town Alaska obituary writer who investigates the lives of her recently deceased neighbours.

Vesper said: “Find The Good offers an honest, clear-eyed, optimistic worldview that today’s audiences are yearning for.

“Heather’s books are packed with authentic characters living real lives in this gorgeous yet sometimes harsh environment. Her writing reinforces our need for deep human connection and we’re looking forward to adapting the stories into a drama that the whole family can enjoy.”

UK-based Fremantle has made a wider push into scripted content in recent years, having also launched Sky drama The Young Pope and Amazon-Starz coproduction American Gods. It is also working on the BBC’s Hard Sun and last week shopped Australia drama Picnic at Hanging Rock to Amazon in the US.

In 2015, the distributor bought The Young Pope’s Italian production company, Wildside, and has taken minority stakes in drama-focused businesses such as Dancing Ledge in the UK.

The company recently upped Rebecca Dundon to director of scripted acquisitions, and has hired former Chernin Television chief Dante Di Loreto as president of scripted entertainment for its North American arm following the regional co-CEO Craig Cegielski.