Once called the greatest Atlantic Canadian novel of all time, Alistair MacLeod’s No Great Mischief may soon find a new life on the small screen.

The rights to develop No Great Mischief have been secured by Toronto-based McMac Media, through Random House Canada. The deal was brokered by Toronto and L.A.-based The Alpern Group in association with The Cooke Agency in Toronto.

MacLeod, a novelist, short story writer and academic, passed away at the age of 77 last week.

McMac’s Seaton McLean confirmed to Playback Daily that his company is in the final stages of negotiation with the CBC to develop the novel as a MOW. Malcolm MacRury is attached as screenwriter.

In a bittersweet twist, the negotiations for the screen rights to the novel were finalized just one day after the author’s passing, McLean told Playback.

Should the MOW move ahead as planned, it would go into production mid-to-late 2015.

“I think people will be excited,” McLean said. “It’s been sitting there for 15 years just waiting for someone to do it.”

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