SunnyMarch and StudioCanal have announced that they have snapped up the rights to Matt Haig’s (A Boy Called Christmas, Paddington) upcoming novel How to Stop Time and are developing a feature film adaptation, with Benedict Cumberbatch set to play the lead role, as well as executive producing.
How to Stop Time tells the story of Tom Hazard (Cumberbatch), a man who may look like an ordinary 41-year-old but, owing to an extremely rare condition, he’s been alive for centuries.
“The prospect of Benedict Cumberbatch playing Tom Hazard is a hugely exciting one and I could not be happier about working with Adam Ackland [of SunnyMarch] and Jamie Byng (of Canongate Books), and to be reunited with StudioCanal,” said author Matt Haig.
“We are delighted to be continuing our successful relationship with Matt Haig as well as build upon our long-running and dynamic partnership with SunnyMarch, Benedict Cumberbatch and Adam Ackland,” added StudioCanal CEO Danny Perkins. “This compelling novel will make for a powerful film that falls in line with StudioCanal’s ongoing commitment to British talent, storytelling and production. We look forward to bringing it to audiences around the world.”
