Book, movie may follow Bain's retrial

David Bain's story will be told again in another book, and a movie may follow. Photo / Getty Images

His retrial has months to go, but a new David Bain book is already in the pipeline - and a movie may not be far behind.

Random House New Zealand managing director Karen Ferns said the company had had "initial discussions" about a book on the saga but expected other publishing houses were also vying for the rights. "I believe it will be a sought-after book."

She would not comment on how much money such a book would generate, nor the advance the author could expect, but publishing insiders estimate it could be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Ferns inferred Bain's chief supporter Joe Karam, who has already published two books on the case, was not the only possible author. "I think there is room for more than one view."

Bain was convicted of murdering five members of his Dunedin family in 1994 and spent 13 years in jail but has always maintained his innocence.

The appeal of a book was obvious, said Ferns. "There's a history of people internationally wanting to read more behind the story, look at the evidence themselves and make up their own mind."

Ferns said the verdict would not affect the likelihood of a book being published.

Film industry sources say a movie is also inevitable.

Robert Sarkies, whose film Out of the Blue, based on the 1990 Aramoana massacre, earned critical praise in 2006, said a Bain movie was highly likely but he wouldn't be making it.

"I'm not really looking to do an Aramoana 2 and I think I'd be run out of Dunedin if I did," he said, referring to the hostile reaction Out of the Blue received from some Aromoana residents.