David e. kelley & matt reeves adapt tom wolfe's bonfire of the vanities for apple tv

Apple TV has landed a major adaptation deal, with Big Little Lies producer David E. Kelley and The Batman director Matt Reeves teaming up to bring Tom Wolfe's bestselling novel The Bonfire of the Vanities to the streaming platform.

Bonfire of the vanities

Published in 1987, Wolfe's novel captured the essence of the greedy '80s when self-proclaimed 'masters of the universe' dominated Wall Street. The story follows hugely successful bond trader Sherman McCoy, whose life spirals out of control after accidentally running over a young black man with his car. McCoy and his mistress Maria flee the scene, igniting a racial and political firestorm in Manhattan.

As the scandal unfolds, an ambitious, hard-drinking reporter named Peter Fallow seizes the opportunity to turn McCoy's woes into a vehicle for his own success. But when Fallow's sensationalized reporting threatens to destroy McCoy's life, a moral reckoning ensues.

Kelley will write the adaptation and also executive produce under his David E. Kelley Productions banner. Reeves is attached to direct and executive produce via 6th and Idaho Productions. The project marks a new challenge for both creatives, who are best known for their work on prestige TV and cinematic universes.

This isn't the first attempt to adapt The Bonfire of the Vanities for the screen. A notorious 1990 film directed by Brian De Palma and starring Tom Hanks, Melanie Griffith, Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, and a young Kirsten Dunst was met with widespread critical and commercial disappointment.

Despite the past failure, there's clearly still interest in Wolfe's novel, which explores themes of class, race, and the corrupting influence of power in 1980s New York City. With Kelley and Reeves at the helm, this new adaptation promises a fresh take on a classic tale.