Drama adaptation of Erica Jong's Fear of Flying
ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment, Mammoth Screen Ltd and Sundance announced today the ground-breaking deal to develop and co-produce the drama television adaptation of the iconic novel by Erica Jong, Fear of Flying. The script will be written by Jacquetta May (In Love With Barbara) and produced by Mammoth Screen (Margot, Lost in Austen), the UK independent studio backed by ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment.
As one of the world’s best-selling novels of all time, Fear of Flying is published in 27 languages and has sold more than twenty million copies internationally. First published in 1973, Fear of Flying is the story of Isadora Wing, a married woman who meets uninhibited English analyst Adam in Vienna and is whisked away on a wild sexual odyssey through Europe.
Mammoth Screen is led by award winning producers Michele Buck and Damien Timmer, joint Managing Directors of Mammoth Screen, who most recently executive produced the ambitious reinvention of The Prisoner for AMC and ITV Studios, starring Sir Ian McKellen and Jim Caviezel.
Damien Timmer and Michele Buck, joint Managing Directors at Mammoth Screen commented, “Fear of Flying is an undisputed modern classic with as much relevance today as it had in the 1970s. The likes of Carrie Bradshaw literally wouldn’t exist without Isadora Wing. It’s an exciting challenge to adapt this iconic novel and bring Isadora’s story to the screen for television viewers around the world; a challenge that will be made all the more enjoyable working with the Sundance Channel.”
Still provocative, shocking and inspirational, Fear of Flying captures a time and place when the world was in flux and new behaviour and standards were being put to the test.
Noel Hedges, Head of Drama Co-Productions and Acquisitions at ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment added “We’re incredibly proud to be working with Sundance on their first ever scripted project, which will bring to screen the brilliance of Eric Jong’s masterpiece of taboo challenging sexual adventures, hopes, fears and wit with exuberance and candour. Creating highly compelling TV.”
Fear of Flying will be distributed internationally by ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment.
Notes to Editors:
Mammoth Screen was set up in early 2007 by Damien Timmer, former Head of Drama at ITV Productions. Michele Buck, former Controller of Drama at ITV Productions, joined him soon after and both are joint MDs of the company.
When at ITV Productions Timmer and Buck formed a highly successful partnership and were responsible for a number of the channel's biggest hit dramas during their time at the corporation including Hornblower, William and Mary, Marple, Poirot and Inspector Morse spin off, Lewis, starring Kevin Whatley. Other credits include Victoria Wood's award winning Housewife 49 and Alan Bleasdale's Oliver Twist for ITV, Russell T. Davies' Casanova for BBC Three, the award winning Sex Traffic for Channel 4 and the critically acclaimed single drama Ballet Shoes starring Emma Watson.
At Mammoth Screen, Timmer and Buck have had huge success with Lost in Austen; a highly original take on Jane Austin's timeless masterpiece, Pride & Prejudice, starring Alex Kingston and Hugh Bonneville. They also continue to oversee hit dramas Marple, Poirot and Lewis for ITV Productions.
Mammoth Screen's Wuthering Heights, adapted by highly acclaimed writer, Peter Bowker (Blackpool), from Emily Bronte's much loved novel, starred Tom Hardy as Heathcliff and achieved strong ratings over the two episodes on ITV1.
Buck and Timmer are also executive producers on the forthcoming reinvention of 60's classic The Prisoner for AMC in New York and ITV. Mammoth Screen's most recent drama was critical and ratings success, Margot on BBC Four, about the life of ballet dancer Margot Fonteyn starring Anne Marie Duff.
Mammoth Screen are currently in production with Bouquet of Barbed Wire starring Trevor Eve and Hermione Norris and are currently developing a medical drama with Peter Bowker, both for ITV.
Although known for their broad range of original drama and adaptations, Mammoth Screen have recently produced their first factual commission, Amanda Holden: Fantasy Lives for ITV1 and have secured their first comedy commission from BBC Three; Dappers written by Catherine Johnson (Mama Mia!).
Journalists enquiries to: david.reiss@itv.com
