Toronto’s Wildling Pictures and Hawkeye Pictures are in post-production on a live-action film adaptation of the graphic novel Paying for It by cartoonist Chester Brown.

The feature is directed by Toronto-based filmmaker Sook-Yin Lee, who co-wrote the screenplay with Joanne Sarazen. Once post is complete, Paying for It will hit the festival circuit, according to a news release.

Paying for It is produced by Wildling’s Matt Code and Hawkeye’s Sonya Di Rienzo and Aeschylus Poulos. Wildling’s Natalie Urquhart is a co-producer alongside Lee. U.S. writer and actor John Cameron Mitchell and star Daniel Beirne serve as executive producers.

Set in the late 90s, the film follows an introverted cartoonist who starts sleeping with sex workers after his long-term partner wants to redefine their relationship. The film is “an adaptation through a female gaze” with Lee allowing sex-worker perspectives to shine through, said the release.

The film stars Emily Lê and Andrea Werhun alongside Beirne.

Paying for It is produced with the support of Telefilm Canada and Ontario Creates, in association with Bell Media’s Crave and CBC Films.

A re-issue of the graphic novel in a new paperback edition from publisher Drawn & Quarterly is set for fall. It features a cover by Brown inspired by the film adaptation, an introduction written by director Lee, expanded notes, movie stills, behind-the-scenes photographs and artwork that Brown created for the production.

Photo by Gayle Ye; pictured Lea Rose Sebastianis (left) and Daniel Beirne (right)