Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn set to work on a TV show for Amazon Studios

The popular thriller writer will executive produce an adaptation of the British series, Utopia.

Last week, Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn announced she would begin working as an executive producer on an American adaptation of the British television series, Utopia, under the same name. Flynn signed “an overall” deal to work with Amazon, and part of that deal entails Flynn creating, producing and show-running the new nine-episode American adaptation.

The original series followed the lives of a group of young adults who are hunted by a deep state organization after obtaining a mysterious graphic novel called “Utopia.” The novel holds myriad conspiracy theories that are actually real. Before being abruptly canceled in 2014 just one year after it began, the show followed the diverse group of young people trying to save the world. However, the series ended unceremoniously and without a conclusion.

Anyone familiar with Flynn’s work, which includes the iconic mystery-thrillers Gone Girl and Sharp Objects, knows this is exactly the sort of plot you’d expect to find Flynn’s name on. Twists, turns, complex and relatable characters, and, of course, mind-blowing conspiracies are the staples of any Gillian Flynn story. She’s already made it clear she intends to put her unique stamp on the Amazon series.

“Utopia‘s pure creative catnip to me,” Flynn said in a statement. “Dennis Kelly’s show blew my mind, and he has been so incredibly generous in letting me crack open his world and play around in it and make it my own weird, wild place. Utopia is all about exploring resonant issues within dark, twisted storytelling — it’s a series that’s urgent and current and a little holy-crap!, but a hell of a lot of a fun.”

The British version’s high-energy opening scene and first season trailer could give at least some idea of what might be in store:

There’s no word yet on when the series will premiere on Amazon, nor on who will be cast. The original British series starred actors Fiona O’Shaughnessy, Adeel Akhtar, Paul Higgins, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Alexandra Roach, Oliver Woollford, Alistair Petrie and Neil Maskell as its main characters. But just as it’s to be seen how faithful Flynn will be to the British original, it’s still early to say which characters will be returning, let alone who will be playing them.

Her work has certainly attracted big names before. Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike starred in the film adaptation of Gone Girl, for which she wrote the screenplay. We will soon see Amy Adams on the upcoming miniseries adaptation of Sharp Objects.

Amazon Studios, for the record, is just as excited to work with Flynn as we all are for the trove of thrilling content she’s bound to produce for them.

“We are huge fans of Gillian Flynn’s electrifying work,” Nick Hall, head of alternative series for Amazon Studios, said in a statement. “She crafts stories that hold her audience in a constant state of suspense and subverts the expectations behind her characters. She will deliver Prime Video members a series they won’t forget, and Utopia’s relevance is sure to connect with viewers around the globe.”

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