Shuggie Bain Adaptation: Everything We Know So Far About This Exciting New Series

Based on an award winning book, this Shuggie Bain adaptation is one of the more anticipated series the BBC has coming. It’s not often a debut novel goes on to the critical acclaim that this book garnered but it’s depth and characters are a great foundation for what will hopefully be a very touching series.
 
Don’t forget to check out the masterlist of all the EWKSF adaptation posts here on Alison in Libraryland!
 
This page was updated: 8/7/23
 

About The Book:

The unforgettable story of young Hugh “Shuggie” Bain, a sweet and lonely boy who spends his 1980s childhood in run-down public housing in Glasgow, Scotland. Thatcher’s policies have put husbands and sons out of work, and the city’s notorious drugs epidemic is waiting in the wings.
 
Shuggie’s mother Agnes walks a wayward path: she is Shuggie’s guiding light but a burden for him and his siblings. She dreams of a house with its own front door while she flicks through the pages of the Freemans catalogue, ordering a little happiness on credit, anything to brighten up her grey life. Married to a philandering taxi-driver husband, Agnes keeps her pride by looking good–her beehive, make-up, and pearly-white false teeth offer a glamourous image of a Glaswegian Elizabeth Taylor. But under the surface, Agnes finds increasing solace in drink, and she drains away the lion’s share of each week’s benefits–all the family has to live on–on cans of extra-strong lager hidden in handbags and poured into tea mugs.
 
Agnes’s older children find their own ways to get a safe distance from their mother, abandoning Shuggie to care for her as she swings between alcoholic binges and sobriety. Shuggie is meanwhile struggling to somehow become the normal boy he desperately longs to be, but everyone has realized that he is “no right,” a boy with a secret that all but him can see. Agnes is supportive of her son, but her addiction has the power to eclipse everyone close to her–even her beloved Shuggie.
 
bookshop.org // Amazon // Audiobook
 

Current Production Status:

This project is still in the development stages.
 

Shuggie Bain Adaptation Timeline:

The book was first released in February 2020 to critical acclaim and went on to win the Booker Prize.
In December 2020 it was announced that the rights had been acquired by A24 to adapt the novel into a series, with author Douglas Stuart writing the script.
It was announced in November 2022 that the BBC had joined the production team and would have distribution rights.
 

Who Owns The Rights:

A24 (Everything Everywhere All at Once) and Scott Rudin Productions (Eighth Grade) won the rights. The BBC joined as a producing partner later.
 

Who Is Attached:

As of Summer 2023 there have been no casting announcements or names attached to the film.
Who would you like to see cast? Leave your dream casting in the comments!
 

Filming Locations:

With the project still in the very early stages of development there are currently no known filming locations yet.
 

Estimated Release:

There is currently no estimated release timeframe made public as of Summer 2023 for when this movie will come to our screens.
 

 

Previous mentions on AiLL:

This book has not been featured on Alison in Libraryland before.
 

Other Adaptations From This Author:

‘Young Mungo’ author Stuart’s second novel is also being adapted by A24.
 
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Happy Reading!!
~Alison

Shuggie Bain Adaptation: Everything We Know So Far About This Exciting New Series

 
Hi there! I’m Alison in Libraryland, and I’ll be here for all your book related needs. Many of you know me as the girl with the book recommendations. Don’t be shy! Ask me! If you’re looking for a good book or movie adaptation, let me help you find it. I’ll be here for all your literary needs. This is a book blog run on an obsession for shiny new books, worn-through old classics, and all attempts at moving those stories to the screen, just like this Shuggie Bain adaptation, based on the award winning novel by Douglas Stuart