Canadian film director Atom Egoyan has acquired rights to James Grainger’s debut novel, Harmless (McClelland & Stewart), with plans to write and direct the adaptation.

According to Grainger’s agent, Chris Bucci of the McDermid Agency, Egoyan got in touch after reading Grainger’s dark thriller, which was released in May. “Atom fell for it right away,” says Bucci. “He had really engaged with the ideas in the book.”

Harmless follows an alcohol-loving arts journalist who attends a tense weekend getaway at a remote farm with old friends when their daughters disappear into the neighbouring woods. Egoyan will be promoting his new film, Remember, at the Toronto International Film Festival, which starts Sept. 10, after which Bucci expects that he will focus on getting Harmless to the “next stage.”

The deal was arranged by Rena Zimmeran at Great North Artists Management, on behalf of Bucci.