Why so many novels never make it to the big screen

The cinemas are full of turkeys yet that brilliant novel you read three years ago has never been made into a film. Danuta Kean descends into development hell and finds out why so many authors get trapped there. Jenny Colgan found herself in a situation with her first novel Amanda's Wedding. She recalls: "Warner Bros bought Amanda's Wedding in conjunction with a then little-known production company called Heyday Films. 'We'll definitely make your movie,' said the producer. 'We've just got this little project in front of yours.' The project in front of mine was only bloody Harry Potter. Hey, maybe after they have made the seventh they will give me a call." I wouldn't hold my breath.

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