Gillian Anderson Leading Channel 4 Adaptation Of Louise Kennedy’s ‘Trespasses’

Gillian Anderson is leading a Channel 4 drama adaptation of Louise Kennedy’s Women’s Prize for Fiction- shortlisted Trespasses.

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The Scoop and Crown star will play Gina, the mother of protagonist Cushla, a ‘glorious wreck’ who is constantly sparring with her daughter.

Cushla is being played by Lola Petticrew ( Bloodlands ) and Tom Cullen is Michael, her love interest.

The novel is set in 1975 near Belfast, as Catholic schoolteacher Cushla meets the older Protestant married man, who often defends IRA suspects.

Trespasses is being produced by BAFTA award-winning and double Oscar-nominated Wildgaze Films ( Brooklyn, An Education) and is being adapted for the screen in her first lead writing credit by Ailbhe Keogan ( Bad Sisters, Run & Jump ). All3Media International is distributing. Filming starts in Belfast in the fall.

Anderson said: “I fell in love with Louise’s stunning book when I read it in proof. I was immediately drawn to the tragi-comic creation that is Gina and couldn’t resist when Louise asked me to play her. Reading Ailbhe’s brilliant scripts confirmed how vividly this story could translate to screen and with Dawn at the helm and Lola and Tom alongside, I’m delighted to be part of the Trespasses family.”

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‘Summerwater’

Anderson’s star power is demonstrative of Channel 4 targeting top talent under new film and TV drama boss Ollie Madden, whose first commission was a series about Margaret Thatcher starring Harriet Walter and Steve Coogan. Madden told Broadcast magazine his drama budget has doubled and he will now commission around 10 scripted shows per year.

Today, Madden has also greenlit Summerwater, another novel-to-screen adaptation from the best seller by Sarah Moss.

Adapted by John Donnelly, directed by Robert McKillop and produced by Freedom Scripted, the show is set against the backdrop of a remote loch-side Scottish holiday cabin park and set over the course of one single rainy summer’s day.

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