The Island thriller in development

Matchbox Pictures is developing New York Times bestseller The Island into a thriller, in partnership with Universal International Studios and The Story Factory.

The novel by author Adrian McKinty centres around a US family who take a working vacation to Australia but encounter a sadistic community prompting them to flee for their lives.

“I’m so excited to see The Island get adapted for the screen with Universal International Studios, Matchbox Pictures and The Story Factory,” said McKinty. “The Island is the story of an underestimated person who maybe doesn’t get a lot of respect but who rises to the occasion and shows everyone what ordinary people are capable of in extremis. Really tough and shocking things happen in the book, but what shines through for me are Heather’s smarts, strength and tenacity – she’s a tribute to the strong women who raised and continue to inspire me.”

“The Island’s multi-faceted characters, heart-pounding suspense and spectacular Australian backdrop combine all the right elements for an epic and riveting series,” said Alastair McKinnon, Managing Director, Matchbox Pictures. “We can’t wait to embark on this thrill ride with Adrian, Shane (Salerno, exec producer) The Story Factory and UIS.”

“If there is one person who knows how to write compelling and complex character journeys, it’s Adrian McKinty,” said Kelsey Balance, SVP, Scripted Programming, UIS. “This story of a heroic stepmother who faces challenge after challenge is gripping and inspiring. We’re excited to work with our incredible team at Matchbox Pictures to bring these characters and this thriller to the screen.”

Synopsis: After moving from a small country town to Seattle, Heather Baxter marries Tom, a widowed doctor with a young son and teenage daughter. A working vacation overseas seems like the perfect way to bring the new family together, but once they’re deep in the Australian outback, the jet-lagged and exhausted kids are so over their new mom. When they discover remote Dutch Island, off-limits to outside visitors, the family talks their way onto the ferry, taking a chance on an adventure far from the reach of iPhones and Instagram. But as soon as they set foot on the island, which is run by a tightly knit clan of locals, everything feels wrong. Then a shocking accident propels the Baxters from an unsettling situation into an absolute nightmare. When Heather and the kids are separated from Tom, they are forced to escape alone, seconds ahead of their pursuers. Now it’s up to Heather to save herself and the kids, even though they don’t trust her, the harsh bushland is filled with danger, and the locals want her dead. Heather has been underestimated her entire life, but she knows that only she can bring her family home again and become the mother the children desperately need, even if it means doing the unthinkable to keep them all alive.