BBC Worldwide North America Acquires U.S. Rights to Musical Thriller LONDON ROAD, Starring Tom Hardy

Variety reports exclusively that BBC Worldwide NORTH AMERICA has acquired the U.S. rights to the musical thriller LONDON ROAD, starring Tom Hardy, Olivia Colman and Anita Dobson.

Directed by Rufus Norris and penned by Adam Cork and Alecky Blythe, the film is based on the National Theatre musical of the same name. The show originally opened at the Cottesloe Theatre in April 2011, then was re-staged with Norris directing at the Olivier Theatre in 2012. The production was nominated for 2012 Olivier Awards for Best New Musical, Best Actress in a Musical for Kate Fleetwood, Best Director for Rufus Norris and Best Theatre Choreographer for Javier De Frutos.

London Road is located in Ipswich, Suffolk, and the plot of the show takes place during the Ipswich serial murders and trial of killer Steve Wright in 2006. The movie, which screened at last year's Toronto Film Festival, will hit theaters this September.

Original cast members of the stage production, Clare Burt, Rosalie Craig, James Doherty, Kate Fleetwood, Hal Fowler, Linzi Hateley, Nick Holder, Claire Moore, Michael Shaeffer, Nicola Sloane, Paul Thornley, Howard Ward and Duncan Wisbey, also appear in the film adaptation.

Commented Soumya Sriraman, BBC Worldwide North America's exec VP of franchise and digital enterprises, "'London Road' offers a rare lyrical interpretation of true events with a fantastic ensemble cast including Tom Hardy and Olivia Colman. While the film deals with a difficult subject, it also illustrates the resilience of a community coming together under extraordinary circumstances."

Photo courtesy of London Road