Best known for writing the novel Trainspotting (which went on to gain a movie adaptation that has become a true cult classic), Irvine Welsh has just been hired to write a small screen adaptation of Ian Palmer’s documentary Knuckle, for HBO.
Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, Knuckle was filmed over 12 years, and showcases the unusual story of two Irish families who help to keep the peace in their long-standing family feud by hosting periodical bare-knuckle fights (where the contestants beat each other to bloody pulps), and immediately sparked the interest of several studios/networks looking to retell the tale; which has found a home at HBO.
Welsh will be writing the script for the drama series, based on the documentary that’s been described as “Fight Club meets Sons of Anarchy”, with Jody Hill (Eastbound & Down) looking to direct the potential pilot, that sounds both graphic, and intriguing, but obviously doesn’t have a confirmed air date as yet, or any cast members attached to play the series’ version of the two brothers on which the documentary focusses; James Quinn and Michael McDonagh.
Matt Wheeldon.
Source: Deadline.
