UCP adapts Chris Whitaker’s new novel “All the Colors of the Dark”

David Calvert Photography; Crown; Elisabeth Caren

UCP is partnering with Side Naegle, Jenna Bush Hager’s Thousand Voices and Ali Krug’s Dinner Party Productions to develop a series adaptation of Chris Whitaker’s new novel All colors of darkness.

Sarah Gubbins (Pam & Tommy, Better Things) will adapt the project. Executive producers are Naegle, Krug, Hager, Ben Spector (President of Thousand Voices) and Whitaker, who also wroteTall oaks, All bad girls And We start at the end.

The story takes place in the small town of Monta Clare, Missouri, where the kidnapping of a young girl is foiled by a most unlikely hero, and the lives of everyone involved take an unusual turn. Patch, a one-eyed local boy who thinks he’s a pirate, rescues the girl, leaving heartache in his wake. His loyal best friend Saint soon discovers that the line between triumph and tragedy has never been thinner. Their search for answers will lead them to truths that could mean losing each other.

“Chris Whitaker has created a beautiful masterpiece in All colors of darkness” Bush Hager said in a statement. “This genre-bending book combines small-town America and the deep devotion of friendship in an epic thriller. We are thrilled to be working with the dynamic Sue Naegle and Ali Krug and the brilliant Sarah Gubbins to bring this incredible book to television.”

“When I met Jenna, Sue and the UCP team, I knew immediately that I couldn’t trust anyone more to adapt this story for the screen,” Whitaker added in a statement. “And from my first conversation with Sarah, I knew we had found our dream writer. Her vision, passion and creativity are overwhelming and I am lucky to be on her team.”

Universal Studio Group’s Creative Acquisitions and IP Management team was instrumental in securing the rights to the novel.

Gubbins is repped by UTA and Hansen Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller, Gellman, Meigs and Fox.