Film Council plays safe with three new costume dramas

Three high-profile costume dramas are to receive finance from the Film Council, the government backed funding body for British movies.

The new projects announced by the Council will confirm fears expressed in the industry that the demise of FilmFour will lessen the scope for radical new scripts. Trainspotting, based on the Irvine Welsh's darkly comic novel of drugs and violence, was one of FilmFour's early successes.

However, the Film Council's three projects, while looking relatively safe, also bring some rich pieces of writing to the screen. The Eustace Diamonds, based on a novel by Anthony Trollope, will be adapted by Julian Fellowes, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Gosford Park. The Film Council is putting £16,500 into the film.

The largest award, of more than £64,000 goes to the development of Mrs Darwin, to be directed by Mike Newell. It is the story of Charles Darwin's wife Emma, who fears for her husband's soul as battles for recognition for his theory of evolution.

The remaining award of £38,500 goes to the development of The Box of Delights, the classic children's novel by John Masefield, which has previously been adapted for television by the BBC in 1984. It is a Christmas tale of a young boy's discovery, via a mysterious puzzle box, of a magical land.

The Film Council's development fund has £5m to give out over three years to boost UK movies. Jenny Borgars, head of the fund, said: "We are delighted to be investing in some of the UK's most talented filmmakers working in Britain today. We believe our support will help increase the productivity of fresh, popular and exciting films for broad and diverse audiences, both here and worldwide."