Legendary masters of horror to adapt 2009 book.
It won the Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel in 2010, and now Boneshaker, written by American novelist Cherie Priest, will be brought to the big screen in a new deal, it has been confirmed.
Hammer Films and Cross Creek Pictures are to co-produce the new movie, with a screenplay written by John Hilary Shepherd. Boneshaker is a story set in an alternate history of the American Civil War where Seattle has been walled in to prevent further exposure of a gas that kills anyone who breaths it in - those who do succumb to the gas's effects become Rotters, zombie-like terrors who now stalk the city.
Boneshaker (2009) was the first of a series of steampunk novels from the Clockwork Century Universe book series that also includes Clementine (2010), Dreadnought (2010), and recently released Ganymede (November 2011). Publisher Tor Books has announced that two further titles are to be released: Inexplicables, in 2012, and Fiddlehead (publishing date yet to be confirmed).
On her personal website, author Cherie priest said: "OH MY GOD, YOU GUYS. So this is real, it’s true, and it’s happening."
She went on further to add: "Thanks a million to everyone for all the congrats, well-wishes, and all-around good cheer! I also want to take a moment to thank my agent, Jennifer Jackson – a.k.a. my Bottle Rocket of Fiery Justice; and likewise I want to thank Boneshaker‘s editor, Liz Gorinsky, who truly went above and beyond to make that book the best it could be."
Tobin Armbrust, Head of Production overseeing the movie’s development for Hammer Films, said: "First and foremost this is a great story. Bringing a steampunk style novel to life on the big screen is going to be very cool, very unique."
Boneshaker was a 2010 Hugo Award nominee in the Best Novel category.
