Spotlight Director Tom McCarthy in Talks to Helm Film Based on S-Town Podcast

Spotlight director Tom McCarthy is in talks to direct a feature based on the This American Life podcast S-Town, as Deadline first reported.

From the creators of Serial, S-Town details the harrowing truths of an Alabama town deemed “Shit-Town” by the story’s anchor, a clockmaker named John B. McLemore. Hosted by Brian Reed, the podcast initially seemed to focus on a murder mystery but the premise unraveled to reveal so much more. Considering its predecessor, it is no surprise that the podcast was a hit, winning a Peabody Award in 2017.

It is dense material, but after helming his 2016 Oscar best picture winner, McCarthy is surely ready to delve into another story with investigative reporting at its center. The rights to the podcast were acquired by Participant Media with This American Life attached as producers. Playwright Samuel Hunter is connected to pen the script.