BBC Films joins RPC for Julien Temple's Kinks feature

Thomas, who has secured the rights to the autobiographies of both Ray Davies and Dave Davies, confirmed to ScreenDaily that veteran British writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais are writing the screenplay. The film, which may shoot later this year, will focus on the often turbulent relationship between Ray and Dave.

“It’s incredibly exciting, a unique tale, the Cain and Abel of rock,” Thomas said. He described the project as “a snapshot,“ taking in Ray and Dave’s childhood, their major success and “after.”

“Jeremy has worked very hard, very consistently, over a long time to make sure we have all the approvals we need,” head of BBC Films Christine Langan added.

The BBC is already collaborating with Temple on his BABYLON/DON project, which was commissioned as part of the BBC’s London Season (for the Cultural Olympiad).

“We sensed the theatrical potential. At BBC Films, we are very keen on Julien. We have expanded it (BABYLON/DON), also with the help of the BFI, to give it a theatrical life,” said Langan, speaking at the London 2012 Festival film launch last week.

BABYLON/DON, billed as Julien Temple’s “epic time-travelling voyage to the heart of his hometown,” is to be sold internationally by Ealing Metro International. The aim is for the film (which is in a similar vein to Temple’s Requiem For Detroit) to be playing worldwide in different territories around the time of the Olympic Games later in the summer. It is expected to be shown to UK distributors shortly. Backed by the BBC and the BFI, it is a Nitrate Films production, written, produced and directed by Temple. It was made with the support of the BBC Archive and the BFI National Archive. The co-producer is Rosa Bosch.

Langan also confirmed that BBC Films was moving forward with Second Is Nowhere, its drama about the intense rivalry between celebrated British middle-distance runners Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett. BBC Films has been developing the project, to be directed by James Watkins (The Woman In Black, Eden Lake), with AL Films.

The film won’t be ready in time for this year’s Olympics.

“We didn’t commission it because of the 2012 Olympics,” Langanede said. “It’s a really good British story that is very exciting and compelling. In a way, it might be good for us to avoid this period of the Olympics because of overkill. I think it will be quite refreshing when it appears, hopefully late next year.”

The BFI has backed both Temple projects, with £53,625 for development funding of You Really Got Me, and total production funding of BABYLON/DON of £384,000.