‘Grantchester’ Actor Tom Brittney, Corestar Media & ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ Author Adapting Story Of Woman Accused Of Murder After Suicide Pact With Terminally Ill Husband
11.03.2024 - 09:45
/ deadline.com
EXCLUSIVE: The story of a woman who was accused of murder after entering into a suicide pact with her terminally ill husband is being adapted for the screen in the UK.
Corestar Media has acquired the dramatic rights to Mavis Eccleston’s story, who took the agonizing decision to end her life alongside husband of six decades Dennis, who was in terrible pain from cancer.
The feature, Goodnight Darling, will follow how the 79-year-old Mavis was arrested and tried for murder, only to be unanimously found not guilty, and then began a campaign with her family to change the law to allow people to take the choice of assisted dying.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel author Deborah Moggach, whose mother served time in prison in an assisted dying case, has written a script. The story could be made as a film or a TV series, said a rep for UK drama indie Corestar.
Grantchester actor Tom Brittney brought the story to Corestar after reading about the Ecclestons’ case. He will be an executive producer on the project.
“When I first met Mavis and her family, I was heartbroken at their horrific ordeal,” he said. “I’m honoured that the Ecclestons have allowed us to tell their story, and to share with a wider audience, in the hope that reform is brought about so that no one ever has to endure the pain that Mavis and their family faced.”
Joy Munns, daughter of Mavis and Dennis Eccleston, said: “The Eccleston family are really happy to be working with Tom and the Corestar team on this drama. They have showed so much empathy with our cause and have really listened to all that we went through and how our mom was treated at 79 years of age.
“We hope Goodnight Darling will bring awareness on how broken and barbaric our outdated law is and that it