Skip to main content

Chronicle writer to adapt Douglas Adams’ Dirk Gently novels for TV

chronicle writer adapt douglas adams dirk gently novels tv
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Max Landis, the writer responsible for the 2012 found-footage superhero film Chronicle, will adapt the world of British author Douglas Adams’ “holistic detective” Dirk Gently for a potential television series.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Landis will partner with production company Circle of Confusion and IDW Entertainment to bring the quirky character to television, with a new comic book series based on Dirk Gently’s adventures also included in the deal. Adams’ surreal sci-fi comedy series The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is widely considered the author’s greatest work, but his series of novels starring “holistic detective” Dirk Gently is often regarded as his most mainstream-friendly project.

“Douglas Adams himself always maintained that his Dirk Gently novels had much greater dramatic potential than his better known Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series,” said Ed Victor, Douglas Adams’ longtime agent and friend, in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter accompanying the announcement. “I think he is about to be proven right — yet again.”

In Adams’ novels, the detective known as Dirk Gently is a firm believer in the “fundamental interconnectedness of all things” with occasional psychic predilections and a knack for getting caught up in wild investigations that often start out small but — because everything is fundamentally interconnected — often have far greater implications. The first novel, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, quickly became a bestseller when it was published in 1987, and Adams’ soon followed with a sequel, The Long Dark Tea-Time Of The Soul, in 1988. A third novel, The Salmon of Doubt, was planned but often delayed, only to be left unfinished when Adams’ died in 2001. His incomplete work on the novel and various other essays were later published posthumously as The Salmon Of Doubt.

The Dirk Gently novels were adapted into a series of radio and stage plays in subsequent years, as well as a short-lived BBC television series in 2010.

“Douglas Adams is a visionary who forever changed the way science fiction is written and talked about and even thought about and even the way real actual science is thought about and without whom our culture would be noticeably different for the worse. I’d also just like to say holy crap, it’s Dirk Gently,” said Landis in a statement about the deal. “This is any writer’s ultimate project, and in the current TV space, it fits ridiculously well. Imagine a playground where you could come with any mystery, no matter how improbable, convoluted or totally insane and then, simply by finding the right connections, you could tie it all down to one man, one private eye. If you’re familiar with the property, you know: there’s no freaking rules. Ancient gods? Sure. Larceny and petty crimes? Of course. Extra-dimensional aliens? I mean, probably; as long as you can make it funny, Dirk’s on the case. This is a dream project of mine, no joke, and I absolutely positively couldn’t be happier.”

There’s currently no timetable for the Dirk Gently series to go into production.

Rick Marshall
A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…
10 best stop-motion animated movies of all time, ranked
Coraline crawls through a dark tunnel.

Stop-motion animation is one of the most creative and beloved subgenres -- and it only seems to get better with time. The greatest movies in this category showcase the hard work and artistry of the inventive minds behind these stories, which often take a long time to commit to film. Each frame is a painstakingly crafted work of art, all aimed at creating immersive worlds full of unforgettable narratives and characters.

From obscure modern classics like The Wolf House to genre-defining masterpieces like The Nightmare Before Christmas, the best stop-motion animated movies highlight the full potential of the medium to deliver complex stories alongside gorgeous and distinct visuals. The craftmanship on display in these films is a testament to the power of animation and those who boldly push the genre's boundaries to create enchanting realities.
10. James and the Giant Peach (1996)

Read more
The 50 best anime on Hulu right now
Gintama anime key art featuring Gintoki leading the supporting cast of the series.

Even when it's not the primary destination, Hulu is still easily among the best mainstream platforms to stream some of the best anime available. It's an especially great supplement for audiences already fans of the streamer's live-action originals, boasting impressive diversity in its anime offerings across film, TV, and various genres.

For customers who aren't subscribed, the Disney Bundle is more than worth consideration to back up Hulu's anime library. This package deal gives viewers countless hours of content through Disney+, ESPN+, and the base ad-supported Hulu plan. Fans will have access to all the Star Wars, Marvel Studios, National Geographic, and sports content they could hope for on top of Hulu's anime catalog.

Read more
Nuggets vs Mavericks live stream: Can you watch for free?
Nikola Jokic squares up a free throw on the court.

Luka Dončić and the Dallas Mavericks take on Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets today. Playoff seeding implications aside, it's always a must-watch event whenever two of the greatest international players of all-time do battle.

This one is set to start in about one hour, at 3:30 p.m. ET, and will be televised on ABC in the United States. If you don't have cable or you're looking to finally cut the cable cord, there are a bunch of different ways you can watch a live stream of the game online.
The Best Way to Watch the Nuggets vs Mavericks Live Stream

Read more