From Big Issue vendor to bestselling author to the big screen… James and Bob’s story is set to take cinemas by storm next year. The film version of James’ bestselling A Street Cat Named Bob book is being filmed at locations around London right now (see below) with Tomorrow Never Dies and Turner & Hooch director Roger Spottiswoode at the helm.
The rights to the film were snapped up in 2012 shortly after the book hit the bestseller lists at a time when James and Bob were still busking on the streets of London. In the film, James is being played by Luke Treadaway, who won an Olivier award for his role in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Undoubtedly there will have been plenty of curious incidents with cats during filming – Bob is playing himself but with the help of eight specially trained cat doubles, while James is advising on the film.
The film co-stars Ruta Gedmintas (pictured below right, alongside Luke as James with the real James and Bob!) as well as Downton Abbey’s Joanne Froggatt and Anthony Head, of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame (pictured below with Bob).
Before the film has even wrapped, international distribution rights have been secured, ensuring that it will be released in territories around the world including Europe, Australia and Latin America.
All of this means that the growth in Street Cat mania is set to continue. Keep reading The Big Issue for updates on James and Bob’s next exciting chapter…
