‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ Producer Tommy Harper Joins Forces With Matt Charman To Develop ‘Sometimes I Lie’ TV Adaptation

Melanie Goodfellow
·2 min read

EXCLUSIVE:  Fresh from the successful box office roll-out of Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, its prolific producer Tommy Harper is joining forces with writer-producer Matt Charman (Bridge of Spies, Treason) to develop a series adaptation of Alice Feeney’s bestselling book, Sometimes I Lie.

The psychological thriller revolves around the character of Amber Reynolds as she wakes up in hospital to discover, she can’t move, speak or open her eyes, but can hear, unbeknownst to those around her.

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She doesn’t remember what happened, but she has a suspicion her husband, who no longer loves her, was somehow involved. Alternating between her paralyzed present, the week before her accident, and a series of childhood diaries from twenty years ago, the thriller slowly pieces together the truth.

The series will be executive produced by Harper, whose myriad credits also include Burton’s Netflix series Wednesday, Willow and Top Gun: Maverick, under the banner of Tommy Harper Productions, and Charman via his London-based Binocular Productions.

The series will be written by the Oscar-nominated Charman (Bridge of Spies) alongside Welsh novelist and screenwriter Caryl Lewis (BBC/S4C thriller Hinterland and Hidden).

Hot literary property Sometimes I Lie was previously parked at Warner Bros TV. The company optioned the rights in 2019 on behalf Ellen DeGeneres’ A Very Good Production, which was leading the development of a mini-series with Sarah Michelle Gellar in the lead role.

The option recently lapsed, and Harper swooped in to pick up the adaptation ball.

Other projects underway at Charman’s Binocular Productions include UK political drama The Choice, starring Suranne Jones, for Netflix.

Harper, who has collaborated with Burton for more than 20 years, continues to work with the director on a number of projects including the second season of Wednesday, which is shooting final episodes next month, and upcoming Attack Of The 50 Foot Woman reboot.

Feeney is a New York Times million-copy bestselling author of novels including His & Hers, Sometimes I Lie, Rock Paper Scissors and Daisy Darker.

Her books have been translated into over thirty-five languages, and have been optioned for major screen adaptations, with His & Hers currently in production for Netflix, and starring Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal.

Harper is represented by WME Entertainment and Greenberg Gusker and is a member of both the DGA and PGA. Charman is represented by CAA, Independent Talent Group, and Grandview. Alice Feeney is represented by UTA and Jonny Geller at Curtis Brown.

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