Paul Cleave's bestselling debut THE CLEANER to be made into feature film?

In an article looking at the rise of European film productions which have smaller budgets but are packed with quality casts and filmmakers, and are targetted at adult viewers rather than the mass-market teen productions, Hollywood bible Variety has this week reported that New Zealand author Paul Cleave's terrific debut novel, THE CLEANER, has been optioned for film adaptation by acclaimed European filmmakers.

I've been hearing whispers about such an adaptation for months, so it's great to see it confirmed. Back in 2008 when I first read THE CLEANER - which sold more than 250,000 copies in Germany alone, and was one of the bestselling crime/thriller titles in that country - I remember thinking that it would make a great film - Cleave has a very visual storytelling style that goes along with some compelling characters and a great plot.

So fingers crossed that THE CLEANER, which has been translated into many languages and hit bestseller lists in several countries, can work its way through the vagaries of the international film making process - it would be cool to see it up on the big screen.

It certainly seems to be in good hands at least, with Pierre-Ange Le Pogam - Luc Besson's partner at the massively successful EuropaCorp, involved. With adult-orientated small to medium budget films that do very well at the box office internationally their focus, they have done terrifically well (eg Taken, The Transporter, etc). Talking to Cleave recently, I know he is very excited about the prospect of THE CLEANER being adapted by such talented filmmakers.

Have you read THE CLEANER? Would you be keen to see Joe onscreen? What other New Zealand crime novels would you love to see adapted for film or television?