Irvine Welsh to turn Trainspotting into television series

Published on 31/07/2012 12:31

IRVINE Welsh has revealed that discussions are being held over proposals to turn Trainspotting into a television show.

The Edinburgh writer, whose book was adapted into a critically-acclaimed film by Danny Boyle, also said that he hoped to have his latest novel, Skagboys, adapted for the big screen.

“I’ve talked to Andrew McDonald who produced Trainspotting, about shooting Trainspotting as a 10-part series with the same actors and then doing a series of of the book Porno a couple of years down the line,” Welsh told the Daily Record.

“I have been talking to people about adapting Skagboys and I’m sure it will be a movie just because, if you were to be cynical, it’s a profitable franchise.”

Skagboys, a prequel to Trainspotting, follows Renton, a straight-A university student with a steady girlfriend who falls into heroin addiction. The book also sees the return of Sick Boy, Spud and Begbie in Thatcher-era Scotland.

Welsh added that Robert Carlyle and Ewan MacGregor would be too old for roles in a Skagboy film.

“The challenge is to make sure it is made for the right reasons and with the right people.

“The original actors won’t reprise the roles because they are too old. We’ll get a different set of people in.”