Little Women and Howards End producer Playground Entertainment is moving into Sherlock Holmes’ territory, developing an adaptation of Kim Newman’s novel Professor Moriarty: The Hound of the D’Urbervilles. Colin Callender’s production company, which also produced King Lear and The Dresser, has optioned the novel, written by the British film critic and author. It is developing Moriarty, published in 2011 by Titan Books, for the small screen.
Professor Moriarty: The Hound of the D’Urbervilles purports to be the memoirs of Colonel Sebastian Moran, the trusted lieutenant of Sherlock Holmes’ nemesis Professor Moriarty. It tells the story of the wily, snake-like and fiercely intelligent criminal mastermind Moriarty and the violent, politically incorrect, debauched Moran, who run crime in London, owning police and other criminals.
Newman said, “I can now announce that my novel Professor Moriarty: The Hound of the d’Urbervilles is in development as a long-form TV project at Playground Entertainment. Early days yet and no other details available.”
