Charles Sturridge, director of FairyTale: A True Story, is to shoot an adaptation of 1999 Booker Prize-winning novel Disgrace for the UK's Granada Film.

The novel, written by J M Coetzee, follows a university professor who travels to South Africa after having been caught having an affair with a student. Sturridge will direct through newly-created film and TV production outfit Firstsight Films, launched by the director with Selwyn Roberts and Francesca Barra.

Sturridge said he had "fought for the right to make the film" ever since he read the story. "Part western, part love story, it twists together elements of physical and emotional violence to create a unique visual tale set amidst the uncertainties of present day South Africa," he explained.

Sturridge recently collaborated with Granada head of film Pippa Cross on TV production Longitude, which won best mini-series at last month's BANFF Television Festival in Canada.

"I am pleased to be re-united on one of [Firstsight's] first projects with Pippa Cross, whose incredible energy transformed Longitude from thought into action in record time last year," Sturridge added.

Coetzee is the only person to have won the Booker twice, having previously picked up the award for The Life & Times Of Michael K.