An adaptation of Eoin Colfer's fantasy novel Highfire is in development at Amazon, with Nicolas Cage set to star in the lead role.

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According to Deadline, the eccentric actor will voice the titular character - a vodka drinking dragon who loves Flashdance - in addition to executive producing the series.

The book, which was released earlier this year, has been described as a combination of True Detective and Pete’s Dragon, containing elements of both a crime thriller and a fantasy novel.

It centres on Highfire, a dragon who lives in alone in a Louisiana swamp and has been forced to hide among the alligators while he remembers the days when dragon ruled the Earth.

However when he encounters Squib, a human teen who has got mixed up in some trouble running booze for the local mob, the two form an unlikely friendship as they each fight for survival.

The series is being adapted by Davey Holmes, whose previous credits include working on the Get Shorty TV series and the US remake of Shameless.

It marks a rare foray into television work for Cage - who earlier in 2020 was revealed to be starring in a series about Tiger King subject Joe Exotic, reportedly playing the lead role.

Cage is best known for his film work, with highlights from his long career including Raising Arizona, Wild at Heart, Face/Off, Adaptation and Leaving Las Vegas - the latter of which won him an Academy Award for Best Actor.

His more recent credits include cult hits such as Mandy and Colour Out of Space, while he has had voice roles in a number of films including Teen Titans Go! To the Movies, Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse, and The Croods.

This series will be the second recent adaptation of Eoin Colfer's work - with his landmark Artemis Fowl series having been adapted into a Disney film directed by Kenneth Branagh earlier this year.

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Authors

Patrick Cremona, RadioTimes.com's senior film writer looking at the camera and smiling
Patrick CremonaSenior Film Writer

Patrick Cremona is the Senior Film Writer at Radio Times, and looks after all the latest film releases both in cinemas and on streaming. He has been with the website since October 2019, and in that time has interviewed a host of big name stars and reviewed a diverse range of movies.

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