Walton to pen 'Water Rat' for Strada

TORONTO -- Scribe Karen Walton ("Gingersnaps") will adapt Ian Hamilton's Ava Lee crime novel series for your bigscreen, Toronto's Strada Films introduced Friday. "Water Rat of Wanchain," featuring the youthful globe-trotting Asian forensic accountant Ava Lee, will be the first title inside the planned franchise. Strada's Sandra Cunningham ("Moth Journals") and Robin Cass ("Amal") can make the photos and so are pursuing worldwide financing and creating partners. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com