The untitled movie is based on a 15 nminute 35mm B&W film by Billy O'Brian, The Tale of the Rat That Wrote . The story of a rat catcher whose life and laboratory are changed forever as the result of one daring rat will be adapted to feature by the director himself, assisted by his original producer, Ruth Kenley-Letts and her company Blue Orange Films.

The sinister, Victorian styled short was BAFTA nominated this year but was pipped to the prize by the excellent, Father and Daughter.

Bevan and Fellner had to find another project to devote their short term energies to after the production of the Rowan Atkinson spy movie Johnny English was delayed.