Brynne Weaver’s dark romantic comedy Butcher & Blackbird novel is set to be adapted into a feature film, with Chris McKay (Renfield) attached to direct. Published in October 2023, Butcher & Blackbird is the first book of Weaver’s “Ruinous Love” trilogy. Weaver will be involved as an executive producer.
Book two, Leather & Lark, was published in June 2024. The third book, Scythe & Sparrow, will drop in early 2025.
Lyrical Media and Ryder Picture Company announced McKay’s attachment and confirmed the film doesn’t have a writer on board yet. Lyrical Media’s Alexander Black will serve as a producer along with RPC’s Aaron Ryder and Andrew Swett. Lyrical Media’s Jon Rosenberg and Natalie Sellers are executive producing.
“Butcher & Blackbird follows two competing killers who target other serial killers as they attempt to one up each other,” reads the official synopsis. “As their unlikely bond grows into something deeper, they start to wonder if a future together could ever be possible.”
Weaver’s “Ruinous Love” books have sold more than 1 million copies.
Chris McKay earned four Primetime Emmy nominations for Robot Chicken, winning once in the Outstanding Short-Format Animated Program category. McKay’s credits also include The Tomorrow War starring Chris Pratt and 2017’s The LEGO Batman Movie.