Jonathan Bailey will star as writer and photographer Bill Hayes opposite Bill Nighy as late neurologist Oliver Sacks in the film adaptation of Hayes’ memoir Insomniac City, as announced on Monday.
From Memoir Vignettes to New York Nights
- Bailey is set to play Hayes and serves as a producer alongside Troy Lum, Andrew Mason, Mike Goodridge, and Gabrielle Tana.
- Dominic Cooke will direct the film and co-write the screenplay alongside Hayes.
- Altitude is handling worldwide sales, introducing the project to buyers at the American Film Market in November 2026.
Adapting Bill Hayes Memoir for the Screen
The plot of the film follows Hayes’ 2017 memoir of the same name, beginning in 2009 when a 48-year-old Hayes moved to New York City following the death of his partner, tvinsider.com reported. While taking late-night photographic strolls and discovering comfort within the metropolis, Hayes unexpectedly developed romantic feelings once more for his neighbor and companion, Sacks.
According to Swooon, the book portrays their romance through a series of short sketches, showcasing Sacks experiencing romantic love for the first time at 75 years old right up until his passing from cancer in August 2015.
Set against the restless, vibrant backdrop of New York City, the logline describes the project as an intimate and uplifting portrait of grief, hope, community, second chances, and the remarkable possibility of finding love when it is least expected.
Cast and Production Team
Bailey will play Hayes and co-write the adaptation of his memoir alongside Dominic Cooke, known for On Chesil Beach, who is set to direct. Nighy, a 75-year-old actor with a decades-long career featuring projects like Love Actually and About Time, is playing the renowned neurologist, according to Swooon. Additional cast members have yet to be revealed.
As Swooon noted, the movie’s lineup of producers features Bailey, Troy Lum and Andrew Mason from Brouhaha Entertainment, Mike Goodridge of Ballad Of A Small Player, alongside Gabrielle Tana of Elsinore. Will Clarke, Andy Mason, and Mike Runagall are executive producing via Altitude, which handles worldwide sales and planned to introduce the project to buyers at the American Film Market in November.
