Rob Ford book Crazy Town nets film deal

Journalist Robyn Doolittle's new book Crazy Town: The Rob Ford Story could soon be headed to a TV or cinema near you.

Toronto-based production company Blue Ice Pictures has purchased film and television rights for the new book, released one week ago.

Published by Penguin Canada, Crazy Town currently holds the No. 1 spot on the Amazon.ca bestsellers list.

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Penned by the Toronto Star's city hall journalist, the book recounts the rise of Rob Ford, the colourful Toronto councillor who became the city's scandal-plagued mayor, and who has since made headlines worldwide for his antics and behaviour.

"This is a story about the city in which I have lived my entire life and has great political, cultural and civic meaning to me," said Blue Ice Pictures executive Daniel Iron, who has produced films such as the documentary Watermark and international dramas Cairo Time, The Bang Bang Club and Away From Her.

"Robyn Doolittle's book is a testament to dogged, fearless and exemplary journalism. We are excited to be working with Ms. Doolittle to bring this story to the screen."

Iron will co-produce the film with Lance Samuels, whose credits include The Bang Bang Club, Inescapable and the upcoming miniseries adaptation of The Book of Negroes.

Talk of a movie about the life of Ford had people on the street providing plenty of suggestions about who could play Toronto’s notorious mayor in a movie.

Torontonians who spoke to CBC News on Monday suggested Woody Harrelson or John Goodman.

But casting director Marsha Chesley said that finding the perfect person to play Ford won’t be easy.

"I do think he is a living, walking caricature. He is not like a man on the street. He is someone who looks different, who acts different," she said.

Doolittle was being deluged with casting suggestions on Monday, which the journalist noted on Twitter wasn't something she could help them with:

News of the Crazy Town deal comes the same day Ford and his brother, Coun. Doug Ford, launched a YouTube web video series called Ford Nation.

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Last fall, Sun News Network briefly tested out a one-hour TV show featuring the Ford brothers, also entitled Ford Nation, but cancelled the production after one episode because of the cost and the lengthy time commitment for shooting and editing.

A weekly radio show hosted by the brothers on Newstalk 1010 also ended in November upon mutual agreement between Ford and the station.