Just John Films options Cecily

Just John Films has optioned the rights to Annie Garthwaite’s acclaimed novel, CECILY (Viking, Penguin 2021) for television

Rosie Day, Amber Anderson and Kate Phillips of Just John Films

CECILY is a reimagining of the life of Cecily Neville, matriarch of the House of York, mother of Edward IV and Richard III, and shrewd political player during the Wars of the Roses.

The series will be produced by Amber Anderson (Peaky Blinders, Emma), Kate Phillips (Wolf Hall, Miss Scarlet and The Duke), and Rosie Day (Outlander, Down a Dark Hall) of Just John Films, a company that creates diverse, compelling stories with an artist-led viewpoint with a slate that leans towards unknown stories of incredible women.

Annie Garthwaite says: ‘My determination to bring Cecily to the page is now matched by Just John Film’s determination to bring her to the screen - and I couldn’t be more pleased. Cecily’s story calls to us down the ages - the story of a woman at war, pitched against ruthless enemies and holding her own at the epicentre of a brutal political system set to bring her down. It’s the story of what a woman will do to protect her family, and exposes the lie that medieval women were powerless or fought with any less ferocity than the men. I’m so excited to see what Just John Films’ talented creative team will achieve as they bring this timeless matriarch to the screen.’

Amber Anderson says: ‘I was bewitched by Cecily as soon as I read the first page of Annie’s astounding novel. A figure from history often wrongly dismissed as somehow inconsequential, Cecily was anything but, and finally through Annie’s masterful writing and diligent loyalty to historical accuracy, we have her singing through the pages with her wit, her intelligence, her courage and her grief. this period of history, The Wars of the Roses, has been told a million times with a huge missing piece - the perspective of the woman who was a the very heart of it all. We are honoured to have been entrusted with this powerful story, and know it will be as enthralling and important on screen as it is in print.’

Jut John Films optioned the rights from Leah Middleton at Marjacq Scripts.