Toronto and L.A.-based Blink49 Studios is in development on a TV copro with Sex Education prodco Eleven, based on a novel by American author M.L. Rio (pictured).

The project is titled If We Were Villains and is an adaptation of Rio’s 2017 novel of the same name, which follows a group of young, ambitious actors at an elite arts conservatory who are faced with a tragic death in their final year.

The novel has sold more than 180,000 copies in English worldwide, according to a news release.

Blink49’s Carolyn Newman and Virginia Rankin are executive producers on the series alongside Rio, Eleven’s Jamie Campbell, CM Stage Productions’ Christopher Maring, Enuka Okuma, Andrew Williamson and Henrik Meyer. Eleven’s Jennifer Pick is co-executive producer.

The prodco has forged several partnerships since it first launched with anchor investor Fifth Season (formerly Endeavor Content), including Jeff Wachtel’s newly launched U.S. production company Future Shack Entertainment. Blink49 is also a producing the Hallmark series Ride with coproducer Calgary-based prodco SEVEN24 Films.

Rio is represented by management company Sugar23 and the Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency.

Photo by Cait Brady