As The World Turns may be no more come next year, but if J.J. Abrams has his way, it may yet still spin. THR.com announced today that the Bad Robot honcho is interested in adapting the book Let The Great World Spin, the National Book Award-winning novel from author Colum McCann. Spin, McCann’s fifth novel, was published in June by Random
House. Built around Philippe Petit’s real-life “artistic crime of
the century” — when the Frenchman illegally walked a tightrope
strung between the World Trade Center towers in August 1974 — Spin follows an ensemble cast of characters struggling throughout
New York. The book’s characters include a young Irish monk living among
prostitutes in the Bronx; a group of mothers mourning their sons,
killed in Vietnam, in a Park Avenue apartment; and a 38-year-old
grandmother walking the streets with her teenage daughter. With
comparisons to Don DeLillo’s work, McCann’s novel serves as an
allegory of 9/11 and its aftermath.
Abrams can just add this project to the Everest-sized pile on his desk, which includes producing (and/or directing) franchises such as the upcoming Star Trek and Mission Impossible sequels. He also has a planned diamond heist film, an earthquake film, Hot For Teacher and The Invisible Woman in the works; as well as Morning Glory with Harrison Ford, Rachel McAdams and Diane
Keaton premiering in July.
McCann’s other works include Zoli, Dancer, This Side of
Brightness, Fishing the Sloe-Black River and Songdogs.