Apple TV+ has secured the rights to adapt High Wire, a gripping thriller by Australian bestselling author Candice Fox (Crimson Lake, Gone By Midnight), into a TV series, sources confirmed to Deadline. Ridley Scott’s production company, Scott Free, will produce the series under its first-look deal with Apple TV+, though the project is still in early development with no writers attached yet. Simonne Overend, known for her work in the industry, will executive produce the series.
Published in September 2024, High Wire takes readers on a high-stakes adventure through the Australian outback, following former soldier Harvey Buck as he races to reach his dying girlfriend. Along the way, he encounters Clare Holland, a stranded traveler, and offers her a ride. This seemingly small act spirals into a nightmare when they are ambushed by a vengeful crew, forced into bomb vests, and made to carry out increasingly dangerous missions. “They are compelled to commit a series of life-threatening tasks under the threat of detonation,” says Deadline.
Fox, an acclaimed crime novelist, has won Australia’s prestigious Ned Kelly Award three times for her work, which includes nine solo novels. Alongside her solo projects, Fox has collaborated frequently with James Patterson, co-authoring seven New York Times bestsellers. Her previous book series, Crimson Lake, was adapted into the ABC Television series Troppo, starring Thomas Jane and Nicole Chamoun.
Scott Free is known for producing major films and TV projects, including Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, Alien: Romulus, and the Apple series Prime Target, which stars Leo Woodall. The company’s upcoming slate also includes Echo Valley and Dope Thief for Apple TV+.
Fox is repped by Gaby Naher at The Naher Agency and Independent Artist Group. With high-profile backing and a compelling premise, High Wire is poised to become a standout series in Apple’s growing lineup.