EXCLUSIVE: Richard Gere’s legal thriller hit Primal Fear, which saw a fresh-faced Edward Norton nab an Oscar nomination in his screen debut, is getting a first stage adaptation.
Bill Kenwright Ltd, the company of the late UK theatre stalwart, has licensed the rights after chasing the IP for more than a year. Paramount, which released the 1996 movie, had first right of refusal, but the UK company was able to get a deal over the line and is now eyeing a 2027 launch in London’s West End and ideally a run on Broadway after that. Talks are underway with a writer and director.
Bill Kenwright Ltd struck the deal with literary manager-producer Ken Atchity, representing the literary estate of author William Diehl, whose 1993 novel the well-received film was based on. Atchity will serve as executive producer along with Diehl literary estate managing partner, Michael A. Simpson.
Primal Fear charts the story of a Chicago defense attorney who believes that his altar boy client is not guilty of murdering a Catholic bishop. Paramount’s movie adaptation of the book took more than $100M globally and heralded the launch of a new screen talent in Norton. Laura Linney, John Mahoney, Alfre Woodard and Frances McDormand also starred. According to Atchity, the stage version will more closely follow the book.
David Gilbery, Chief Executive of the Bill Kenwright Group, told Deadline: “Primal Fear is one of the great legal thrillers of our time, with all the ingredients to be a major theatrical event. At Bill Kenwright Ltd, we’re focused on telling compelling stories from powerful pieces of IP, and this is a perfect example — a gripping, brilliantly constructed story with real depth and a great twist. At the heart of it is the extraordinary character of Aaron Stampler — memorably brought to life by Ed Norton in the film adaptation. I can’t wait for audiences to experience this story for the first time on stage.”
Bill Kenwright Ltd is the theater, film and TV company set up by respected UK producer Bill Kenwright, known for a string of stage hits including West End staples such as Blood Brothers, and versions of Cabaret, The Sound Of Music, The Shawshank Redemption and Heathers The Musical.
Atchity, an associate producer on franchise The Meg, is an exec producer on John Woo’s Gambino, and Mr. Irrelevant, directed by Jeff Fisher, both of which are in early pre-production.