Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Scottish novelist Irvine Welsh, whose best-known novel Trainspotting was made into an as-well-known movie directed by Danny Boyle, will write a screen adaptation himself, this time for the small screen. Welsh has been tapped to write a script for a drama series based on the Ian Palmer-directed documentary Knuckle, which is in development at HBO. Described as Fight Club meets Sons of Anarchy, the docu, which was filmed over 12 years, is about two Irish families who settle a longstanding dispute by periodically engaging in bare-knuckle bouts, beating each other to bloody pulps, and focuses on two brothers, James Quinn and Michael McDonagh. The film premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, where its remake rights sparked interest from several parties. HBO ultimately landed the project, with Danny McBride, Jody Hill and David Gordon Green’s Rough House Pictures, which produces HBO’s comedy Eastbound & Down, attached to produce. Now Hill is also attached to direct the potential pilot. Additionally, Rough House’s Matt Reilly, Teddy Leifer of Rise Films, which produced the documentary, and Palmer are also producing. Welsh is with UK’s Independent Talent Group and Underground Films & Management. Hill, who co-created Eastbound & Down and directed several episodes, including the pilot, is with CAA.

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