Home

Clementine Ford’s best-selling book Fight Like a Girl is being turned into a TV show

Staff reportersThe West Australian
CommentsComments
Clementine Ford.
Camera IconClementine Ford. Credit: unknown/Clementine Ford/instagram

Outspoken feminist writer Clementine Ford’s best-selling book Fight Like a Girl is getting the silver screen treatment.

The book — described as an “essential manifesto for feminists new, old and soon-to-be” — delves into how, despite the waves of feminist movements, the world continues to be unequal for women.

“Crucially, it is a call to arms for all women to rediscover the fury that has been suppressed by a society that still considers feminism a threat,” it is advertised as on book retailers.

Published in 2016, the book will be adapted by Aquarius Films, which has previously worked on films like Dirt Music and Lion, and shows The Other Guy and The Unusual Suspects.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

As reported in Variety today, the story will chart the “political awakening of the 15-year-old future feminist icon on the suburban grounds of her 1990s high school as she attempts to rally those around her to the cause. She soon discovers that her message will be met with opposition every step of the way, and she must choose between fitting in or fighting for a future world she wants to live in”.

Aquarius is planning a six-part TV series with 30-minute episodes.

The series scripts will be written by Ford, Lou Sanz, Nayuka Gorrie (Black Comedy, Get Krack!n) and Nina Oyama (ABC’s upcoming comedy Squinters).

“(Ford) is an influencer and a social disrupter who openly speaks of taboo subjects in order to spark conversation and incite change. She is not afraid of controversy and through her writing is able to delve into important issues with satire and grace,” said Aquarius Films’ founders Angie Fielder and Polly Staniford in a statement.

Ford also shared the news on social media, saying she had been “dying” to share since initial meetings a year ago.

“Many meetings, brainstorming sessions and online zooms followed, and today we finally get to announce it,” she wrote.

“The plan is to create a six-part TV dramedy series set in the 90s, exploring the world of a teenage girl and her awakening to feminism and patriarchy. It’s inspired by the content of my book, but the characters will be new.”

Ford went on to explain that as an “insecure teen growing up in the 1990s, television was such an escape”.

“To be able to develop a narrative fiction version of this time for today’s viewers is an absolute dream come true,” she said.

“Fight Like A Girl resonated with so many readers because, despite our differences, there are parts of being a girl in the world that are universal. We want to offer the same experience now to a broader audience, reminding everyone how far we’ve come – and how far we still have to go.”

It has not yet been announced where the show will air or stream in Australia.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails