Edge of Darkness 'set for big screen'

Joe Don Baker played Darius Jedburgh in the series

Director Martin Campbell is set to bring his acclaimed BBC TV mini-series Edge of Darkness to the big screen, according to Variety.

The New Zealand-born Bafta-winner has been given the green light to recreate the political thriller for cinema audiences, it was revealed at the Sundance Film Festival.

Since Mr Campbell directed the BBC drama Edge of Darkness he has gone on to develop Hollywood Blockbusters Vertical Limit, The Mask of Zorro and Bond movie GoldenEye.

Edge of Darkness first aired in 1985 and won five Bafta awards including best director, drama and music.

The late Bob Peck played the lead role in the small screen drama

It also picked up a best actor award for the late Bob Peck, who died of cancer in 1999.

Edge of Darkness told the tale of police inspector Ron Craven who is forced to investigate the mysterious death of his own daughter.

Aside from the murder it also dealt with controversy surrounding nuclear policy in the 1980s.

It also starred Joanne Whalley, Joe Don Baker and Zoe Wanamaker.

Contemporary theme

Whalley and Baker were both nominated for Bafta's for their roles in the drama.

It was recently voted number 15 in the British Film Institute's top 100 television programmes of the 20th century.

The film adaptation will be made by Catch 23, a British development and production company launched in 2001.

The action will transfer to America and the script will be given a more contemporary theme, according to Variety.

Mr Campbell is currently working on an American romance entitled Beyond Borders, starring Angelina Jolie and Clive Owen.