Flying Scoop Television has optioned the film rights to William Elliott Hazelgrove's narrative nonfiction book "Evil on the Roof of the World: A Cycling Trip That Ended in Terror." The book, published by Bloomsbury on November 13, 2025, tells the heartbreaking true story of Lauren Geoghegan and Jay Austin, two young American idealists who left stable careers in Washington, D.C. to embark on a global cycling journey that ended tragically in July 2018 when they were murdered by ISIS terrorists in Tajikistan's remote Pamir Mountains.
The production company, known for creating content for networks including National Geographic, Discovery, and Fox Nation, plans to adapt Hazelgrove's deeply researched account of the couple's journey and tragic demise. Mark Finkelpearl, Partner and Executive Producer at Flying Scoop, described the story as "heartbreaking, courageous, and deeply cinematic," emphasizing the company's commitment to honoring Lauren and Jay's legacy through the adaptation.
Hazelgrove's book reconstructs the couple's story through their Simply Cycling travel blog, social media posts, interviews with friends and family, and global media coverage. The narrative offers a profound exploration of idealism, risk, love, and violence that transcends the true crime genre. Reviewers have compared the book's sensitive storytelling to Jon Krakauer's "Into the Wild," highlighting its literary quality and emotional depth.
Nathaniel Starck, Executive Producer and Director at Flying Scoop, explained that their goal is to adapt the book with integrity, showing both the beauty of Lauren and Jay's journey and the tragedy of their loss. "This is more than a true crime story," Starck said. "It's a story about two people who believed in connection and risk, and what their lives meant to everyone who knew them." The project represents Flying Scoop's continued focus on real people and what they describe as the "hidden edges of society."
The film adaptation comes at a time when true stories of adventure and tragedy have gained significant audience interest across streaming platforms. Flying Scoop's most recent release, "The Real Hatfields and McCoys Forever Feuding," achieved streaming success, demonstrating the company's ability to bring compelling real-life stories to screen. The adaptation of "Evil on the Roof of the World" will explore themes of youthful dreaming and unflinching hope colliding with harsh reality, offering viewers a meditation on the risks and rewards of pursuing idealism in a complex world.
