Never Let Me Go stage adaptation 'in the works'

Kazuo Ishiguro has revealed that he is planning a stage version of his novel Never Let Me Go, which was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2005.

A film adaptation starring Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan and Andrew Garfield is currently in UK cinemas, but Ishiguro told the BBC that a stage version is now in the works.

Speaking at the Evening Standard Film Awards, he said that legal obligations will prevent a stage debut until three years after the film is released, but he is already discussing the details with potential producers - including the possibility of it being a musical.

Ishiguro, whose other works include The Unconsoled and When We Were Orphans, also noted that a Japanese-language version of Never Let Me Go is being produced, though he admitted that bringing the novel to the big screen has stalled his writing.

'I'm very happy to have done it, but now I'm going to get back to work and try to think of a few more stories,' the author added.

The 56-year-old won the Man Booker Prize for Remains of the Day in 1989, which was later turned into a big screen adaptation starring Anthony Hopkins.