‘The Dictionary of Lost Words’ to be adapted for TV

Screen rights to The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams have been acquired by South Australian production houses Highview Productions and Closer Productions, in a deal made by Anonymous Content on behalf of Linda Kaplan at Kaplan/DeFiore Rights for Affirm Press.

Highview Productions’ Lisa Scott and Closer Productions’ Rebecca Summerton will develop and adapt the book as a television series, with Williams serving as an executive producer.

‘We fell in love with Pip’s novel just as readers all over the world have and are excited to be bringing this beautiful and thought-provoking story to the screen,’ said Scott and Summerton. ‘Inspired by actual events, this heartfelt novel shines a light on the ignored contribution of women’s words and their history in the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary.’

The pair previously collaborated as producers on Closer Productions’ drama series The Hunting, starring Asher Keddie, which screened on SBS in Australia. They will be joined by Anton Andreacchio as producer, with Alex Dimos and Andrew Nunn joining Williams as executive producers.

Said Williams: ‘I could never have anticipated the love my book would receive from readers all over the world. It’s been thrilling and humbling and when readers have got in touch to ask when it will be adapted to screen, it’s felt completely surreal—I never dared to dream so big. But then Lisa got in touch—she’d read the book, loved it and wanted to adapt it. We had coffee and talked for hours, and I knew my book had found its way into safe hands with her and Rebecca.’

The screen deal follows the stage adaptation of the novel, a co-production between the SA State Theatre Company and the Sydney Theatre Company, which will premiere in Adelaide in September 2023 before showing at the Sydney Opera House in October 2023.

Category: Local news