Rob Savage, director of the Zoom-based horror film Host and the upcoming Stephen King adaptation The Boogeyman, has signed on to direct a TV series based on the horror novel The Last Days of Jack Sparks by Jason Arnopp (pick up a copy HERE). Gaby Hull (Two Weeks to Live) is writing the adaptation.
The TV series based on The Last Days of Jack Sparks will follow a pop culture journalist and supernatural sceptic who is making a documentary about the occult. No stranger to controversy, Sparks laughs in the face of the devil by mocking an exorcism he witnesses, putting in motion a series of terrifying, tragic and mysterious events.
The Last Days of Jack Sparks is coming our way from Vertigo Films, with the company’s co-founder James Richardson serving as executive producer and head of development Nathalie Peter-Contesse overseeing the development of the show.
Savage provided the following statement to Deadline: “Bringing diabolically wonderful books like Jason’s to the screen is a rare treat. The disturbing, hilarious and terrifying story of Jack Sparks is such a unique take on the genre, one that will give audiences a new reason to fear the dark. Gaby’s uniquely brilliant writing and razor wit make him the perfect collaborator to bring this new nightmare to life and I’m delighted to be working with the batshit Vertigo Films again on this batshit horror odyssey.“
Arnopp added: “Deep down in the devil’s workshop, the Dream Team bell is tolling loud and clear. I know that Jack Sparks himself would raise several glasses to these creative hellions and loudly declare that they will do his gruesome and tragic story proud.“
Hull had this to say: “Jason Arnopp’s novel is a contemporary horror masterpiece – as devilishly funny as it is terrifying. With Rob Savage at the helm and the Vertigo team producing, I’m incredibly excited to help introduce viewers to the hellish thrill ride that is Jack Sparks.“
And Richardson wrapped it up with: “Vertigo have been working with Rob since he was 17 – he was born to make horror! We warmed up making Britannia together and are now going full unhinged horror with Jack Sparks. With Rob’s unique storytelling, Gaby’s wonderful script and Jason’s extraordinary novel, we’ve got a horror dream team to make a truly terrifying TV series. British horror can step into the TV spotlight once again.“
As Richardson mentioned, Savage first caught Vertigo’s attention when he was making short films as a teenager. They distributed his first feature film, the drama Strings, back in 2012, and a few years later he directed multiple episodes of their TV series Britannia.
Does The Last Days of Jack Sparks sound interesting to you? Have you read the novel? If so, what do you think of the story getting the TV series treatment? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.