Bruna Papandrea’s Made Up Stories plans to adapt yet another book for the small screen. Since this spring the company has announced it will be bringing Allison Pearson’s “How Hard Can It Be?”, Jessica Knoll’s “The Favorite Sister,” and Karin Slaughter’s “Pieces of Her” to TV. Now there’s word that, alongside Endeavor Content, Made Up Stories is developing Signe Pike’s new historical novel, “The Lost Queen,” as a television project.
Published in September, the medieval-Scotland-set “Lost Queen” centers on Languoreth, whose ancestors’ traditions are being threatened by Christianity and colonization. “As she is catapulted into a world of violence and political intrigue, she must learn to adapt to survive, and together with her brother — a warrior and druid known to history as Myrddin (Merlin) — has to assume her duty to fight for the survival of her kingdom and its way of life or risk the loss of them both forever,” a press release synopsizes. “‘The Lost Queen’ rescues a passionate and brave woman from vanishing history to reclaim her place in one of the most enduring legends of all time.”
Papandrea is producing the project.
“Anyone who knows me can tell you that I have been waiting for this book my entire career,” said Papandrea. “This is not only an historic, epic tale, but it is also incredibly romantic, inspiring, and provides a landscape for a show that can exist for years to come. Signe’s writing struck me to my core and I feel honored to bring this book to the screen.”
“Bruna and I share the same vision for this project in uncanny ways. We are committed to creating a series that is as lush, authentic, and unforgettable as the world of ‘The Lost Queen’ itself. With its powerful female-centered directive, Made Up Stories is the dream team to bring Scotland’s forgotten queen back to life,” added Pike.
Papandrea’s other upcoming projects include TNT drama “Tell Me Your Secrets” (formerly “Deadlier Than the Male”), Catherine Zeta-Jones beauty pageant comedy series “Queen America,” and female astronaut drama “Pale Blue Dot.” She produced Jennifer Kent’s revenge drama “The Nightingale,” which won the Special Jury Prize at Venice Film Festival this year. Papandrea received an Emmy for producing HBO hit “Big Little Lies.” The mystery thriller’s second season, directed by Andrea Arnold, is expected next year.
Pike has worked as a book editor, and spent a decade researching and writing about Celtic history, folklore, and tradition. Her first book, “Faery Tale,” is a memoir about her real-life investigation of magic and fairies.
