Andrew Holleran’s 1978 novel, Dancer From The Dance, is considered by many to be one of the most important books of 1970’s gay literature. However, it’s never been adapted for the screen.

That’s about to change though, as Deadline reports that Alan Poul is set to direct a film version, teaming with a Brazilian company, RT Features, to get it made.

The book, ‘chronicles the search for love and pleasure in the mid-seventies dance-club subculture of New York, centering on the unlikely friendship between the charismatic and mysterious Anthony Malone and the wildly flamboyant Andrew Sutherland.’

The novel depicts a world of free love, drugs and hedonism, with a generation of young men finding freedom as the rise of gay pride gave then more confidence and a community away from the bigotry of wider society. And of course it was written at a time before anyone knew AIDS would emerge.

As for Poul, his ‘TV directing credits include Six Feet Under, The Newsroom, Rome, Swingtown, and the feature The Back-up Plan. RT Features’ productions include Frances Ha, Love is Strange, Mistress America, and The Witch. Screenplay is by Joshua Harmon, John Krokidas, and Austin Bunn’.

The plan is to shoot next summer.