Compact Pictures to adapt Rachelle Atalla’s first novel "The Pharmacist"

Glasgow-based Compact Pictures will develop "The Pharmacist", the first Rachelle Atalla's novel, to the screen. Laura McBride from Compact Pictures originally identified the book as a perfect story for the company, which is now moving into development with Atalla attached to adapt.

"The Pharmacist" is a female-led, psychological story about bunker-dwelling survivors in a post-nuclear world. Wolfe is the bunker’s pharmacist, doling out medicine under the watchful eye of an increasingly erratic and paranoid leader. When the leader starts to ask things of her, favours she can hardly say no to, it seems her luck is running out. Forming unlikely alliances, she is forced to navigate the powder keg of life underground where one misstep will light the fuse.

John McKay, CEO and lead producer at Compact Pictures says: “'The Pharmacist' is a stand-out novel and will make an atmospheric, claustrophobic adaptation – in the lo-fi, speculative vein of 'Children of Men', but with a strong female perspective. We are thrilled to be working directly with Rachelle; she is a charismatic, original and dynamic storytelling voice with striking and timely things to say about women, their bodies and the politics of control. Her story also has some uniquely British DNA, and it’s no coincidence that she has been compared to George Orwell. Even though it’s early days, we have high hopes for this project: the story is exceptionally strong, and it readily opens itself to diverse casting and distinctive visual styling.”

Rachelle Atalla adds: “I am delighted to be working with John, Laura and the team at Compact to bring my first novel to the screen. Even though we are just getting started, they have an incredible vision for my work and it’s an exciting prospect for me to turn the book into a screenplay and then see it come alive on screen. And it’s particularly satisfying to be doing all of this out of Scotland too!”

Compact Pictures has a rich slate of projects in development. Building on John Mckay’s pedigree as a maker of award-winning TV, its small screen developments include "The Hum" an eight-part, sophisticated, high-concept thriller created by writer James Mavor (Reichenbacj Falls). Compact is also developing "A Beginners’ Guide to Ruling the Galaxy", a teen/YA comedy series written by David Solomons.

Finally, Compact Pictures has just completed its first feature film, Aylin Tezel’s "Falling Into Place". A co-production which Weydemann Bros, it has just been acquired for distribution by Global Screen. Other current feature projects in development include James Ley’s sparkling gay romcom, "Lovesong to Lavender Menace", and "Spyglass", an original family action feature also from YA author David Solomons.