By Kirsty Topping
A SCOTS crime writer is to have his books brought to the big screen.
Tony Black will see his alcoholic former journalist-turned investigator Gus Drury come to life when his book, Long Time Dead, is turned into a film.
And the former newspaper sub-editor is keen to see Scots actor Dougray Scott take the lead role.
Tony has teamed up with Dunfermline-born director Richard Jobson on the project and the pair are expected to begin work when Richard finishes his current film.
Edinburgh-based Black, 39, said: “He’s followed the series from the beginning and said this was the one that really caught his eye.
“I’m completely confident he will do a good job of it – he portrayed Edinburgh brilliantly in New Town Killers.
“Nothing has been signed yet but he is hopeful of getting Dougray Scott to play the main role, having worked with him before.
“He’s a really respected film-maker.”
Tony had his first book published just four years ago but has quickly become established as part of the “Tartan Noir” genre.
However Tony is not worried about how Richard will interpret his story.
“I can’t speak for other writers but I’m not at all precious about my work,” he said.
“In some ways I’ve done my bit – he’ll now look at it and we’ll bounce some ideas back and forward.
“It’s up to him, I appreciate it’s a different skill – I’m not looking for someone to recreate the exactness of the page.”
Long Time Dead, which was released last year, tell the story of journalist and alcoholic Gus Dury when he becomes a reluctant crime investigator.
Tony’s latest book, Truth Lies Bleeding, was launched at the Edinburgh Book Festival to great acclaim.
“I’ve never had aspirations to be a screenwriter,” Tony added.
“In this industry you get a lot of talk and people coming up to you saying they want to do this and that, but more often than not it gets kicked into the long grass.
“But this is really exciting – it will be good for my sales and profile of course, and I’m delighted to be working with someone of Richard Jobson’s calibre. It’s really flattering.”
