CJ Tudor’s The Chalk Man, published by Penguin Random House / Michael Joseph (UK) and Penguin Random House / Ballantine (US) in 2018, was a Sunday Times best-seller and has sold in over forty countries. It won widespread acclaim including praise from fellow thriller writers Stephen King and Lee Child.
Set in the picturesque village of Anderbury, it tells the story of Eddie and his four friends – Gav, Mickey, Hoppo and Nicky. Their teacher, Mr Halloran – who they have christened The Chalk Man - gave them the idea for the chalk drawings; a way for the friends to leave each other secret messages. It was fun until the chalk men led them to the dead body of a 17-year-old girl. Thirty years later, Eddie believes the past is far behind him – until an envelope slips through the letter box containing a stick of chalk and the drawing of a figure he recognises… are the Chalk Men back?
The story follows the gang not just during their traumatic experience during the summer of 1991, but also three decades later, as troubled adults who play out those haunting memories all over again. Who or what was the malevolent presence in Anderbury that summer? Has it returned 30 years later and will history repeat itself?
CJ Tudor says: “I am chuffed to bits that The Chalk Man is being developed for TV and couldn’t wish for a better team to bring the book and its characters to life. I’ve had so many readers tell me how much they would love to see The Chalk Man on screen, so this is great news for them and me!!”
Tom Sherry, Head of Drama North, BBC Studios says: “Telling stories is at the heart of our work at BBC Studios Drama and CJ Tudor’s chilling tale of an adulthood haunted by the past, is a story we knew TV viewers around the world would be gripped by. We’re thrilled to be collaborating with CJ Tudor and with our partners Nice Media Studios and Windowseat to bring this thriller to life.”
Sam Sokolow, Chairman of Nice Media Studios says: “Few books jump off the page and scream to be made into a television series the way CJ’s masterful thriller The Chalk Man does. Mick Ford’s authentic voice and dynamic vision serve the material great justice.”
Bill Kiely, President of Windowseat Pictures says: “Windowseat’s strategy to discover first time authors paid off with CJ Tudor’s The Chalk Man. Though The Chalk Man is set in the UK, it is totally relatable to a reader here in the states. We are over the moon to be collaborating with BBC Studios on this series.”
The TV rights to CJ Tudor’s book The Chalk Man are jointly owned by BBC Studios, Nice Media and Windowseat. Executives Producers will be Tom Sherry and Priscilla Parish for BBC Studios; Sam Sokolow for Nice Media and Bill Kiely for Windowseat.
