Sunday, 14 November 2010

Kathy Charles' John Belushi is Dead - Film Adaptation?

Variety and Dark Horizons report that "Because of Winn-Dixie" producers Joan Singleton and Ralph S. Singleton have acquired the film right to Kathy Charles' debut novel John Belushi is Dead (aka Hollywood Ending in Australia).

This novel was one of my favourites of 2009 and I am thrilled that a story outside of the paranormal realm might find itself on the silver screen.  Fingers crossed that it wiggles its way through the gamut of production, filming and reease with no problems!

Synopsis -
Pink-haired Hilda and oddball loner Benji are not your typical teenagers. Instead of going to parties or hanging out at the mall, they comb the city streets and suburban culs-de-sac of Los Angeles for sites of celebrity murder and suicide. Bound by their interest in the macabre, Hilda and Benji neglect their schoolwork and their social lives in favor of prowling the most notorious crime scenes in Hollywood history and collecting odd mementos of celebrity death.

Hilda and Benji’s morbid pastime takes an unexpected turn when they meet Hank, the elderly, reclusive tenant of a dilapidated Echo Park apartment where a silent movie star once stabbed himself to death with a pair of scissors. Hilda feels a strange connection with Hank and comes to care deeply for her paranoid new friend as they watch old movies together and chat the sweltering afternoons away. But when Hank’s downstairs neighbor Jake, a handsome screenwriter, inserts himself into the equation and begins to hint at Hank’s terrible secrets, Hilda must decide what it is she’s come to Echo Park searching for . . . and whether her fascination with death is worth missing out on life. Goodreads

Congrats to Kathy, it is fantastic to see further Australian YA work being adapted for the screen.

Kathy's website www.kathycharles.com
Adele's review of Hollywood Ending / John Belushi is Dead

4 comments:

Kathy Charles said...

Thanks Adele! You were one of Hilda's first fans. I'll always be grateful for the support you showed the book. Now begins the long journey from page to screen!

Holly said...

Oh wow, I can't wait to see this one re-imagined in film!

Amy said...

I loved this book, too and was so happy to hear the news.

Emma (the Expat) said...

I've never heard of this book. Lucky that you posted this!