After 15 years since the world last saw the cunning and brooding Tom Ripley onscreen, the iconic book character that Matt Damon brought to life on the big screen might soon land his very own TV show. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Television 360 and Endemol Shine Studios, together with publisher Diogenes are collaborating to bring Patricia Highsmith's Ripley novels - all five of them which are also known as the "Ripliad," to TV audiences.
Reports say that producers Guymon Casady and Ben Forkner from Television 360 will head the production team, as well as Philipp Keel of Diogenes, Highsmith's former agent and publisher. Endemol Shine Studios' executive vice-president will also be part of the production team. Casady and Forkner have long been fans of Highsmith's novels, and have developed a close relationship with Keel. The three then decided to create a TV series based on the popular books, just in time for its 60th anniversary since its publication, according to Time.
The producers are still looking for writers who would pen the adaptation, as well as a director - hopefully someone who has a background on filmmaking. The role of Tom Ripley is yet to be cast as well. The production team aims to market the TV show to premium cable networks or online streaming websites.
"The Talented Mr. Ripley," published in 1955, was the first of the five novels that Patricia Highsmith has written for the character of Tom Ripley to critical acclaim. The book went on to win the prestigious Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel. The subsequent novels in the series, "Ripley Underground", "Ripley's Game", "The Boy Who Followed Ripley", and "Ripley Underwater" were also well-received at the time of the respective release. The books explore the complexity of the titular character, who suffers from paranoia. It was reported that the rest of the novels would also form part of the TV series.
The book and its memorable character Mr. Ripley first came to the big screen with "Purple Noon" released in 1960. But it was Matt Damon's performance as the talented Mr. Ripley in the Oscar-nominated movie adaptation of the novel that made a mark to audiences. The novel has also been adapted by BBC Radio 4, as well as onstage performed by the Northampton's Royal Theater.
Incidentally, another Highsmith novel has been making waves in the film industry lately, particularly during the recent Cannes Film Festival. The adaptation of her novel "The Price of Salt," titled "Carol," received to positive reviews.