New Empire Pictures (NEP) today announces it has secured the rights to adapt award-winning author Sarah Winman’s Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling novel, Still Life. The deal was negotiated by Emily Hayward Whitlock at The Artists Partnership in association with Robert Caskie at Robert Caskie Ltd.

The project, spearheaded by Primetime Emmy, BAFTA, Golden Globe awards winning Producer and Executive Producer, Liz Trubridge (Downton Abbey) and NEP’s SAG award winning CEO Matt Barber (Downton Abbey) is in advanced development. Sarah Winman is set to adapt the novel with Lewis Georgeson (Dream Team) co-writing.

Published by Fourth Estate for Harper Collins in the UK and G.P. Putnam’s Sons, Viking and Random House in the US, Still Life quickly shot to the heights of critical acclaim, becoming both Sunday and New York Times Bestsellers; Waterstones Book of the Month and the 2021 Dymocks (Australia’s leading book retailer) Book of the Year.

Winman has won numerous awards throughout her writing career. Her debut novel “When God Was a Rabbit” became an international bestseller, garnering her the New Writer of the Year award in the Galaxy National Book Awards.

Author and screenwriter, Sarah Winman says, “I am thrilled to be working with Liz and Matt on the adaptation of Still Life. Their support and passion for the project has been unequalled.”

CEO, New Empire Pictures, Matt Barber says, “This is the first project we are announcing from our slate of diverse and exciting material. It’s an immense privilege to be developing this with Sarah herself and we are very excited about the quality that this team and project promise to deliver.”

Executive Producer, New Empire Pictures, Liz Trubridge says, “It is a great pleasure to be working with Sarah and Lewis on the adaptation of this special novel. A story of people coming together at a time when there is so much uncertainty and a celebration of a family of friends, old and new, sharing a dream.”

This announcement follows the recent launch of New Empire Pictures, the joint venture that re-unites Matt Barber with his award-winning Downton Abbey producer, Liz Trubridge across their development slate of compelling and unique stories.

For headshots and book cover please find here.