Amazon MGM has officially greenlit a feature film adaptation of James Byrne's crime thriller as it looks for a new marquee action hero in the mould of its hit series Reacher. The move reflects Hollywood's appetite for larger-than-life literary heroes following the streaming success of Prime Video's Reacher, starring Alan Ritchson, and marks the first time Byrne's character will be brought to live action.

The film centres on Desmond "Dez" Aloysius Limerick, a former elite operative who works as a touring bass guitarist and repeatedly finds himself drawn into dangerous conspiracies. Although the film adapts the second novel, Deadlock, it will carry the title of the first book, The Gatekeeper. The plot follows Dez as he protects an investigative journalist who has exposed damaging secrets about a corrupt tech corporation, Clockjack, and is then pulled into a wider conspiracy. Unlike the physically imposing, stoic Reacher, Dez is portrayed as a quicker, wittier and more charismatic protagonist.