Stourbridge author mourns Tony Scott (From Stourbridge News)

Stourbridge author mourns Tony Scott

12:02pm Thursday 23rd August 2012 in News

THE movie version of the best-selling debut novel penned by Stourbridge author S J Watson is among projects late movie mogul Tony Scott leaves behind.

Plans to turn the tense page turner Before I Go To Sleep into a film starring Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman were confirmed by author Steve Watson earlier this year - with brothers Tony and Sir Ridley Scott said to be on board as executive producers.

The Top Gun director’s apparent death from suicide, however, has left the film industry in shock and Sir Ridley has halted filming of his latest project to fly out to Los Angeles, California, where his younger brother was seen plunging from the Vincent Thomas Bridge on Sunday.

Mystery this week surrounded the 68-year-old British born film-maker’s death, which prompted an outpouring of tributes from movie stars, directors and fans.

Quarry Bank born film-maker Carl Tibbetts, director of Retreat, said on Twitter as news broke: “Very sad about Tony Scott, who on earth didn't love True Romance thank you for that one let alone the many others...”

American broadcaster ABC reported the blockbuster film-maker had been diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer but his widow Donna Wilson has rubbished the suggestion.

Scott, who was reportedly working on a big screen version of 24 and developing Top Gun 2 with star Tom Cruise, is believed to have left a suicide note but details remain private.

His brother, who directed Alien and Gladiator, flew from London to Los Angeles on Monday having suspended shooting of his latest film The Counsellor starring Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz and Penelope Cruz.

His production company Scott Free Productions is behind the Before I Go To Sleep film project for which a 2013 release date had been touted and which Bafta-winning Rowan Joffe has been lined up to direct.

Watson told the News in May that Moulin Rouge and Eyes Wide Shut star Nicole Kidman had been chosen to play the lead in the movie version of his story about an amnesia patient named Christine, who wakes each day to find she’s married to a stranger and she’s 20 years older than she remembers.

The 41-year-old NHS audiology specialist turned author, who grew up in Wordsley, told how he was “incredibly excited” about the film plans and Kidman’s casting.