news

News - May 2005
Here's what's been happening recently - and what's just round the corner.

Alex Rider Film - Stormbreaker

The first, big news is that it really does look as if the film of Stormbreaker is about to go into production. So far two hundred boys have been seen for the part of Alex but although there are quite a few frontrunners, nobody has yet been cast. So if you're fourteen, a great actor, physically fit and drop-dead good looking, you should apply!

The film has a budget of $40 million - an enormous amount for a British film. Which means we can afford loads of stunts, explosions, chases and all the rest of it. The Cornwall part of the story will be shot on the Isle of Man (there are tax reasons for this) but you can also expect to see cameras turning later this year in London.

Sabina Pleasure is a character in the film, by the way, even though she doesn't appear in the book. I wrote the screenplay and decided to include her because everyone seems to like her and anyway the film would feel odd if there wasn't a girl in it too.

What else?

Ark Angel

Ark Angel was a fantastic success - selling 200,000 copies in the month it was published and jumping straight to number one on the bestseller list. I suppose I ought to thank everyone who bought it. I hope you've enjoyed it.

I've done quite a few talks and signings in the last four weeks including one at Foyle's bookshop in London which even made it onto the BBC News at Ten. There was an enormous queue - thanks to everyone who waited - and my wrist was aching by the end. I also did three talks in Scotland and one at the Polka Theatre at Wimbledon. I'll be going back to Scotland - to Perth - in October (and I'll also be at the Edinburgh Book Festival).

“Ark Angel: Bk. 6 (Alex Rider 6)” (Anthony Horowitz)

Raven's Gate

Right now I'm gearing up for the launch of Raven's Gate, the first in my horror/fantasy sequence. You'll find more information about it on this website and I've concealed the first chapter somewhere. You just have to find it!

The Next Alex Rider Book

Finally, since everyone is asking the same question - yes, there will be a seventh Alex Rider adventure. All I know right now is that it will be set partly in Australia and partly, perhaps, in Japan. It may also connect with the two missing children who are mentioned in Scorpia (see the chapter called “Cobra”).

I'm not going to write it for a while. I've been invited to Australia next February and I'll use the trip to do some research but I doubt if I'll write it until the end of 2006.