01/08/2012 - Cineuropa reports as Exit Film prepares to adapt a series of popular Estonian novels

Estonian based production company Exit Film is in the final stages of preparations to bring wildly popular character Melchior to the screen with a proposed feature film and six-part TV series.

The films are to be based upon Indrek Hargla's best-selling crime novels set in the 15th century Tallinn about Melchior, a renowned young pharmacist who solves murder mysteries in the city. Utilising many of the famous landmarks of Tallinn, the books have found a place in the heart of Estonians thanks to their heady blend of history, crime and melodrama. The producers hope that the latest series of adaptations will not only prove a draw to Estonian audiences eager to see their favourite character in a new medium but also to international audiences interested in watching crime dramas that are created outside of the US and UK.

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The first installment in the series is planned to be the feature film Melchior and the St. Olaf's Mystery, with the script – being written in collaboration with original author Hargla (photo) – currently in its third draft. The aim is for the film to be completed and screened in 2014. The feature, with an estimated budget of €1.5-2 million, is intended to also work as a pilot for the TV series. Should this prove successful, there are also plans to branch the character out into other media including games.