Irvine Welsh and Bret Easton Ellis to co-create a TV series based on US national tabloid press culture

Burning Wheel Productions are currently finalising talks with literary giants Bret Easton Ellis and Irvine Welsh to co-create a dramatised series based on the national tabloid press culture in the US.

Working title American Tabloid – the series will journey through the decades following events from a weekly publication and enter into a world where political correctness, morals, and ethics are left firmly at the door.
The series will follow a rambunctious cavalcade of pranksters, con men, and rapscallions – in other words, journalists – being brought together from across the globe to change not only the landscape but the power of the press forever from scandalous rumour to political puppetry.

Shelley Hammond of Burning Wheel said, “to do this production justice we always knew we would require writers who don’t hold back and go way further than most would dare. We are just beyond delighted that we are ready to agree a deal to make this happen with the incredible talent of Bret and Irvine. This would be the first time the two have collaborated professionally – and with the support to allow creative freedom we are confident spectacular things will happen.”

All parties are positive that the deal will be firmed up in the coming weeks and a development schedule will be in place swiftly.

Irvine Welsh, renowned for his in-depth social narratives and depiction of the darker side of Scottish life, previously created Trainspotting, Filth, and more recently T2. He will be joined by Bret Easton Ellis, creator of the satirical and ultraviolent black comedy/horror American Psycho and cult offerings Less Than Zero, The Rules of Attraction and must recently White. The duo lend their satirical minds into the world of the US tabloid newsroom.

Burning Wheel Productions recently completed feature production Creation Stories – a screenplay by Irvine Welsh and Exec Produced by Danny Boyle on the life of British music industry Svengali Alan McGee.

Next PostPrevious Post