An $8-12m adaptation of well-known UK writer Martin Amis' novel London Fields heads the second development slate of Hamish McAlpine's Tartan Films, the Los Angeles-based sister company of UK distributor Metro Tartan Distribution.

Tartan has jointly acquired rights to the book with US production outfit Muse Productions, which has credits including American Psycho and Buffalo 66. The novel revolves around a psychic, Nicola Six, working class darts champ Keith and posh family man Guy. Nicola meets the two men in a London bar and senses that one of them will murder her on her 35th birthday.

"We've turned it into a ticking clock counting down towards her 35th birthday," McAlpine said.

Tartan is also developing comedy Joe Bananas and a historical drama with US producer Ed Pressman. Quadra Entertainment is likely to handle international sales on the two projects, while Metro will handle UK distribution unless the projects' budgets increase dramatically.

The projects follow hard on the heels of Tartan's debut productions, which included Suspicious River. Directed by Kissed director Lynne Stopkewich, the picture pre-sold widely.