‘Murdle’ Mystery Book Set For TV Adaptation From Legendary & Pacesetter Productions With Plans For Expansion; Jon Croker To Write Series

EXCLUSIVE: Legendary Television has acquired the rights to Murdle, a collection of murder mystery puzzles by G. T. Karber, to develop a scripted series based on the best-selling book.

Pacesetter Productions brought the pitch to Legendary, with plans to build out a Murdle universe that will also include films and unscripted series.

Paddington writer Jon Croker will pen the television adaptation, which will be the project to launch this expanded universe. So far, the logline for the series is still being kept under wraps.

Published by St. Martin’s Griffin in the US and Souvenir Press/Profile Books in the UK, Murdle features 100 “simple to impossible” mysteries for readers to solve. The book has been translated into more than 30 languages, with over a million English-language copies sold in the first year. It is a Sunday Times bestseller and took the top prize at this year’s British Book Awards.

Murdle has also launched a franchise that includes a board game, Murdle: The Case of the Cover Up, which was recently released. There are also two more upcoming books, Murdle: The School of Mystery and a children’s spinoff Murdle, Jr.: Curious Crimes for Curious Minds.

Legendary will produce the series along with Pacesetter principal Jessica Rhoades, and her executive vice president Alison Mo Massey. Karber will serve as Executive Producer and develop the series alongside Croker, Pacesetter and Legendary.

Untitled represents Karber, Croker and the Murdle title. Croker is additionally represented by CAA, Independent and Jackoway, Austen, Tyerman. Karber is additionally represented by publishing agent Melissa Edwards of Stonesong and lawyer Daniel Donohue of Loeb & Loeb.