Vertigo Films has announced it has attached Hollywood film writer and director, Kirk Jones (Waking Ned, Nanny McPhee, What To Expect When You’re Expecting, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2) as writer and director on its upcoming drama series, You’ve Been Trumped (4×45’).
Jones has completed the scripts on the series, which is his first television drama.
Based on Anthony Baxter’s award-winning 2011 documentary of the same name, the dramatisation marks the first television project for Jones, who will explore how a small Scottish community stood up against Goliath a.k.a Donald Trump and his Golf Course development.
Set on one of Europe’s most environmentally sensitive stretches of coast on Scotland’s Northeast coastline, the new drama series charts the true story of what happens when everyday people take on one of the world’s most famous, divisive, and powerful families.
When brash US multi-billionaire Donald J. Trump decides to build a luxury golf course in the middle of a treasured Scottish nature reserve in Aberdeenshire and the Scottish Government overturns its own environmental laws to give him the green light, it’s the locals who are forced to pick up the fight to preserve their way of life and their homes.
Told through the eyes of farmer Michael Forbes, his family, and a core group of residents, the drama follows key figures at the heart of the story – from former SNP First Minister Alex Salmond and Councillor John Swinney to Guardian journalist Annie Baxter and the entire Trump family. As the locals make themselves an ever-present thorn in the side of Trump and his developers, they find themselves in uncharted territory, in their efforts to save the ‘Amazon Rainforest’ of Scotland.
Kirk Jones, writer and director, said: “There was a reason why the worlds media was drawn to this story in 2006 and why there was such a determined effort to prevent Anthony Baxter’s excellent documentary of the same name, being released in 2011. A special site of scientific interest was stripped of its status and a community of decent people faced an unwanted aggressor. This is a story that needs to be told to a wider audience and I am thrilled to be working with this team on what we plan to be a humorous, dramatic and emotionally engaging TV series set in one of the most stunning locations in the British Isles.”
Allan Niblo, co-founder of Vertigo Films, said: “Trump’s presidency is arguably one of the most insane periods of modern history, and yet it was this story – one of rebellious spirit, human endeavour and genuine fear for the planet – that we felt compelled to dramatize. Kirk is the perfect person to retell this story having captured so brilliant the strength of community, heart and spirit so well in WAKING NED.
Naysun Alae Carew for Blazing Griffin added: “This is a story that captures Scotland’s true spirit. Standing between the land and the person who would become the most powerful man on the planet simply because it was the right thing to do. It shows us all how hard we must fight to protect our natural environment. We are incredibly excited to be working with Vertigo and Kirk to tell this story to the world.”
Vertigo Films (Britannia, Bulletproof, Bronson, Monsters) will co-produce You’ve Been Trumped with digital entertainment company, Blazing Griffin (Book of Love, Anna & The Apocalypse) and Montrose Pictures (You’ve Been Trumped, Eye of the Storm). It is executive produced by Allan Niblo for Vertigo Films, Naysun Alae Carew and Lizzie Gray for Blazing Griffin, Anthony Baxter for Montrose Pictures and Kirk Jones (Waking Ned, Nanny McPhee, What To Expect When You’re Expecting) who has written and will also direct the series. Baxter will also serve as a creative consultant on the series.
Cast and further details will be announced in due course.
Jon Creamer
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