Melina Marchetta’s acclaimed YA novel will become a TV series…

On The Jellicoe Road will be adapted for the small screen by ZDFE, Werner Film, and Wild Sheep Content – a production company run by former Netflix honcho Erik Barmack.

Melina Marchetta’s uniquely Australian novel received several literary awards after it was first published in 2006, including the 2008 West Australia Young Readers Book (WAYRB) Award for Older Readers and the 2009 Michael L. Printz Award from the American Library Association.

Via Variety, the story follows 17-year-old Taylor Markham, who is the leader of a boarding school underground community.

“Abandoned by her mother when she was 11, and with little recollection of her father, the only adult influence in her life is her mentor and guardian Hannah, who suddenly vanishes. There is also a territory war going on between the boarders, the kids from the local town, and a group of cadets training locally.”

Samantha Strauss (H2O: Just Add Water), Sarah Walker (Wentworth), and Angela Betzien (Total Control) will write the On The Jellicoe Road TV series, and the search is now on for a director and a cast.

“On The Jellicoe Road is an enthralling, sophisticated, complex and gripping teen story which I can’t wait to see on the screen.” said Joanna Werner, Executive Producer at Werner Film Productions.

Barmack added “Young adult series have become truly global, and we are thrilled to be working on bringing this seminal Australian work to a global audience with Werner Film Productions and ZDF Enterprises.”

More on this as it develops.