BBC Studios-backed indie Brock Media has won the rights to Caleb Azumah Nelson’s second novel, Small Worlds, fighting off multiple bidders.
Due to be published by Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House, on 11th May 2023, Small Worlds is billed an “exhilarating and expansive novel about fathers and sons, faith and friendship, set in London and Ghana across three summers.” It follows Caleb Azumah Nelson’s award-winning, best-selling début novel Open Water.
Brock Media will work closely with Nelson, who will write the script.
Sarah Brocklehurst, founder of Brock Media, whose credits include The Outrun, Animals and Black Pond, said: “Small Worlds is a contemporary masterpiece; thrilling, urgent and full of heart. I had such a strong emotional response to the book so it’s an honour to have been entrusted with bringing it to the screen. Caleb is an incredible writer and I have no doubt that Small Worlds will become an exceptional piece of television.”
Caleb Azumah Nelson added: “I’m so excited to be working with Brock Media to bring Small Worlds to the screen. Sarah and her team have showed such energy and enthusiasm towards the book and the emotional response has been palpable. For a novel that is so deeply personal, that is concerned with the community I come from and who have made me who I am today, I’m grateful to have such an invested partner.”
Sarah Brocklehurst previously produced Animals, the feature film adaptation of Emma Jane Unsworth’s novel, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and won a British Independent Film Award for Unsworth as screenwriter. Brock Media is also developing the television adaptation of Unsworth’s memoir After The Storm.
More recently, Brock Media has produced The Outrun, adapted from Amy Liptrot’s best-selling memoir. The feature film stars Saoirse Ronan and is due to be released in cinemas in 2023.
Launched in January 2022, Brock Media’s team includes Katie Brown as Head of Development, Rohina Cameron-Perera as Associate Producer and Mélys Codo as Development Executive.
BBC Studios, the main commercial arm of the BBC, has a partnership deal with Brock Media, encompassing development, production and distribution.
Jon Creamer
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