Australian production company Magpie Pictures has secured the screen rights to “Pictures of You,” the latest novel from USA Today best-selling author Emma Grey.
The move forms part of a slate of distinctive, female-led scripted series under its Screen Australia Enterprise-funded growth strategy.
“We have curated a slate focussed on impactful stories from Australian female creators that will engage and entertain Australian and international audiences,” said Magpie Pictures founder and producer Lois Randall.
Grey’s novel, published in November, rocketed onto the USA Today best-seller list and is already outpacing the success of her debut “The Last Love Note,” which became a breakout global hit. Randall will produce the screen adaptation alongside Matt Kelly as executive producer.
“Emma Grey is establishing herself as a best-selling Australian author, with a talent for writing compelling and deeply affecting fiction,” Randall added. “’Pictures of You’ rocketed straight into the USA Today best seller list after it was published in November and is already out-pacing Grey’s debut novel ‘The Last Love Note’ which was a global breakout best seller.”
The story follows Evie Hudson, a forensic linguist who wakes from a car crash that killed her husband with no memory of him—or the past 13 years of her life. “As she pieces together fragments of her life, Evie has to confront what she’s lost and find what she still has to fight for,” Randall said. “With its unique hook and point of view, we’re adapting ‘Pictures of You’ as a mystery thriller that, while traversing urgent themes, has a second chance love story at its heart.”
Grey said the partnership with Magpie was a perfect creative fit. “From the outset, Magpie Pictures has shared my vision to capture the light and shade in this story, and my desire to translate the novel’s powerful contemporary messages for a fresh audience,” she said. “I’m thrilled to be working with Lois and the team.”
The adaptation forms part of a broader slate of upcoming projects at Magpie Pictures, including “The Dark Horse and the Hummingbird,” a mystery-thriller created by Lâle Teoman and set in the Blue Mountains, and twisty dramedy “Provenance,” written by Giula Sandler, based on the Melbourne art-world mysteries by Katherine Kovacic.
Magpie has also announced the appointment of new advisors as part of the second stage of its Enterprise strategy, with Quan Phung and Fiona Eagger joining to advise on both creative and business development.
“I’m honoured to work with Los Angeles-based executive and producer Quan Phung and acclaimed Australian producer Fiona Eagger, who are advising on both creative and business development, bringing an extraordinary depth of experience and market insight to the company,” said Randall.
Phung is a veteran producer and consultant developing a global slate under his Miquan Productions banner. His career includes executive roles at Topic Studios and 20th Century Fox TV, where he oversaw major hits like “How I Met Your Mother” and “House, M.D.”
“I’m thrilled to serve as an advisor for Magpie and a producing partner with Lois on select projects,” Phung said. “Magpie’s already shown a keen eye in identifying fresh voices with series like ‘Swift Street.’ As global audiences and buyers embrace uniquely Australian series, it’s a great time for Magpie to focus on authentic female voices that will create the next big Australian global hit. I’m excited to join the Magpie team at Screen Forever to help connect them to global partners.”
Eagger, one of Australia’s most accomplished television producers, co-founded Every Cloud Productions with Deb Coxand produced “Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries,” which has sold to more than 170 territories worldwide.
The slate expansion follows the earlier appointments of Matthew Kelly as Business Executive, and Claire Lindsay and Ree Evans as job-share Development Producers.
Magpie will present its new lineup—including “Pictures of You”—to global buyers and partners this week at Screen Forever.