A BRADFORD author is on the verge of seeing his work hit the big screen after being snapped up for film.

David M Barnett’s heartwarming novel Calling Major Tom has been optioned for film by award-winning content production company Vision3, which has worked on Hollywood blockbusters such as Gravity and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

The book is the life-affirming story of an astronaut who has given up on the world, but discovers in the most unlikely way that it might not have given up on him. The book has sold in a number of countries including a six-figure German deal, and is a Kindle Top five ebook bestseller.

The idea came to former T&A features editor David, who lives with his family in Wilsden, when he heard how astronaut Tim Peake dialled a wrong number from the International Space Station and asked a woman at the other end of the line: “Hello, is this planet Earth?”

Assuming the caller was a drunken reveller Grandmother Betty Barker put the phone down. Then David Bowie died and “it all sort of came together.”

He is “hugely excited” that Calling Major Tom, which is published by Trapeze, part of Orion Publishing Group, is to be brought to life.

“Vision3 is an innovative, pioneering company with fabulous credentials and a great pedigree in the film world. Their enthusiasm for the book and their ideas for adaptation makes me certain that it is definitely in the best hands. I can't wait to see how they start to let Tom, Gladys and the rest make the giant leap from page to screen.

“Having someone interested in making a movie of your work is an incredible experience. Although the intention is to write the best book you possibly can, it's great that someone thinks it will translate well into another medium and possibly reach a wider audience.”

He added: “It will be interesting to see how well the novel translates to film. There are a lot of flashbacks to the main character as a boy and a younger man, and there's quite a lot of action, both on Earth and in space, so hopefully it'll make for a thrilling ride.

The book is David’s eight novel. His first, Hinterland, was published in 2005. He later saw success with his Gideon Smith trilogy set in Victorian times, about a plucky Yorkshire lad drawn into a series of fantastical adventures.

Of Calling Major Tom, he moved to “something that was funnier and more tragic, that would get under the skin of people.”

His home city has inspired him. “Living and working in Bradford has been a huge influence on my work, because those years at the T&A brought me into contact with all kinds of people from all walks of life, and I was keen, especially with Calling Major Tom, to tell stories of Northern, working class people who were as true to life as possible.”

Vision3 is responsible for developing an ambitious approach to 3D filmmaking, receiving a record eight Lumiere Awards from the International Advanced Imaging Society. They are increasing their scope to produce groundbreaking feature films, of which David’s is the first.

The deal optioning film rights was forged between Richard King, rights manager at Orion Publishing Group, literary agent John Jarrold and Adam May, director of production at Vision3.

Said Richard: ‘When I first met with Adam to hear of Vision3’s plans to expand into producing their own slate of features, he said they were looking for a heartfelt and intimate domestic drama with the scope for a big visual. Calling Major Tom couldn’t fit this bill more beautifully, and it was clear straightaway that Vision3 would be the perfect production company to bring David’s wonderfully heart-warming and unexpectedly epic novel to the big screen.”

“Adam and the team at Vision3 have championed this novel right from the beginning, and I’m confident that in their hands Calling Major Tom could be a future classic of British cinema.”

Said Adam, who is also producer of Calling Major Tom: ‘As we expand into producing original films at Vision3 we have set out to champion strong character stories, told on often spectacular canvases.

“Calling Major Tom perfectly hits that sweet spot. It is an incredibly uplifting and affecting story and manages a delicate balance of gripping adventure on a galactic scale with a ground-level story of redemption and hope in modern Britain.

“David has achieved an incredible feat in creating a feel-good tale of actual substance.”

Added John: “When we found out that Vision3 was interested in the film rights both David and I were very positive and excited. Their background is outstanding and this is going to be a fascinating journey.”

At home in Wilsden, David’s teenage children Charlie and Alice are “secretly proud, I think, but being teenagers they don't make too much of a fuss... which is the way it should be. Family helps keep your feet on the ground and reminds me why I do this in the first place.”