Douglas Adams’ Dirk Gently character coming to TV; Max Landis to script

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

IDW Entertainment and Ideate Media announced today they have optioned the worldwide rights to Douglas Adams’ “Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency” novels. IDWE and Ideate have formed a partnership to co-fund development and co-produce with the intent of securing a direct-to-series commitment. Circle of Confusion (“The Walking Dead”) will Executive Produce.

Max Landis (CHRONICLE, FRANKENSTEIN) will pen the pilot and executive produce. Here’s a vague synopsis:

Dirk Gently is a charismatic, mysterious, troubled, brilliant, figure – cursed with a relentless intellect, psychic powers he doesn’t fully understand or want, a gift for self-mythologizing, and a supernatural ability to detect disturbances in the fabric of reality, Dirk has found a strange calling as a private detective for impossible crimes.

I’m not personally familiar with the title, but it sounds pretty nuts. Here’s what Landis said is in store:

If you’re familiar with the property, you know: there’s no freaking rules. Ancient gods? Sure. Larceny and petty crimes? Of course. Extra-dimensional aliens? I mean, probably; as long as you can make it funny, Dirk’s on the case. This is a dream project of mine, no joke, and I absolutely positively couldn’t be happier.”