CTV is currently in talks with Barna Alper Productions of Toronto to make a movie on the Robert William Pickton case, now unfolding in gruesome detail in a Vancouver courtroom.

Barna Alper, a Toronto-based production company, has optioned the rights to the upcoming Stevie Cameron book, The Pig Farm, on Pickton, who's standing trial in B.C. accused of killing six women. He will face charges of killing another 20 women in a later trial.

The company has hired Peter Mitchell, of Cold Squad fame, to write a screenplay based on the book.

"This project, which was brought to CTV some time ago, is in a very early development phase and has yet to be ordered into production," said Mike Cosentino, vice-president of communications for the private broadcaster. "The creative direction of this sensitive material is still to be determined."

"We'd like to have it close to release after the trial," Loren Mawhinney, vice-president of programming at Barna Alper, told Playback magazine.