Producer Ellie Wood (The Dig) has struck a development deal with Banijay U.K. and is working on an adaptation of Barbara Pym's novel Excellent Women. Deadline reported that under terms of the agreement, Wood's Clearwood Films "will get access to funding to develop ideas and treatments and support from centralized resources including finance, legal and business affairs."
In 2019, Wood produced the Netflix feature The Dig, and three years later made the ITV and BritBox limited series Stonehouse. She is also an executive producer on Hot Milk, Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s film adaptation of Deborah Levy's novel.
Patrick Holland, CEO of Banijay U.K., said: "Ellie is a brilliant producer with an established reputation for creating standout, high quality drama. Banijay Rights have had a successful first-look deal in place with Clearwood, working with Ellie on projects including Stonehouse, and we are delighted to be backing her vision."
Wood added: "I'm particularly excited to be developing the novels of one of my favorite authors, the inimitable Barbara Pym.... Just as Jilly Cooper's Rivals gave us a 'Cooperverse', I look forward to creating a 'Pymverse' and bringing this iconic author's uniquely British tales of comic observation and unrequited love not only to her legions of fans but also to a wider TV audience."