Catriona Ward's novel The Last House on Needless Street won't be published in the UK until March 18th, with the US release to follow on September 28 (pre-order a copy HERE), but Stephen King has already given it a rave review – and Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish's company Imaginarium Productions has already optioned the film rights.
Ward's third novel, following 2015's Rawblood and 2018's Little Eve, The Last House on Needless Street centers on
Ted, who lives with his daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia in an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. An unspeakable secret binds them together, and when a new neighbor moves in next door, what is buried out among the birch trees behind their house will come back to haunt them all.
When Stephen King read the novel, he said he was
blown away. It's a true nerve-shredder that keeps its mind-blowing secrets to the very end."
Here's what Ward had to say about the film deal:
From the very first, I was bowled over by the Imaginarium team – their passion, their dedication and thoughtful approach to this book. I know that The Last House on Needless Street is in the best possible hands, and I can’t wait to start working with them to bring the mysterious world of Needless Street to life on film."
Serkis said The Last House on Needless Street is
the kind of book you come across once in a lifetime. I'm incredibly excited that Catriona has chosen to collaborate with Imaginarium to bring her spectacular novel to the screen."
It sounds like the book and film will both be worth looking forward to.