EXCITED ABOUT: SHE WHO BRINGS GIFTS

Last month, casting for the film She Who Brings Gifts was announced by author M.R. Carey. It passed me by for two reasons. Firstly, it sounded like a chick flick. Secondly, and I’ll stick my neck out at this point, I didn’t really have a clue who M R Carey was. I assumed it wasn’t Nick Cannon, the estranged husband to a singer, songwriter, record producer and occasional actress you may have heard of.

It was only after I finished his zombie fiction The Girl With All The Gifts a few days ago that I bothered to find out more about the man. Turns out he’s done alright for himself. A British writer of comic books, novels and films, most notably for Marvel, his latest offering is brutal and inventive – the thinking man’s The Walking Dead. A deliriously awesome page turner. 

Better still, the book is to be made into a movie. The title will differ from the book, to be called – you’ve guessed it - She Who Brings Gifts. And last month, some of the casting was announced for the film. Veteran Glenn Close will be playing Caroline Caldwell; Gemma Arterton, controversially, is set to play Helen Justineau (the character is black in the book); and Paddy Considine, excitingly, shall play Sergeant Parks. 

As of yet, nobody has been announced to play Private Kieran Gallagher or beautifully realised main protagonist (can you call her that?), Melanie. But that's not all to get juiced up about - Colm McCarthy will direct the movie. Who, you say? He's the guy responsible for Sherlock's 'The Sign of Three' and the second season of Peaky Blinders, no less. 

Unsurprisingly, the screenplay will be adapted by Mike Carey. Filming is set to begin next month, with a release date sometime in 2016. Before then, read the book. I don't want to give anything away, but it could be the best thing you do all year. DW