Renée Zellweger to Star in and Produce MAX Series JANE SMITH Based on James Patterson Bestseller 12 MONTHS TO LIVE
Academy Award-winning actress Renée Zellweger (Jerry Maguire, Chicago, Judy) has signed on to star in and executive produce the MAX series Jane Smith, based on the bestselling novel 12 Months to Live by James Patterson & Mike Lupica.
The legal thriller drama is being produced by Skydance Television, MGM Television, James Patterson Entertainment, David E. Kelley Productions and Zellweger’s Big Picture Co. Miki Johnson (Presumed Innocent, Ozark) has signed on as writer and showrunner.
“Jane Smith centers on a brilliant, tough, and darkly funny defense attorney in the Hamptons. Up to this point, Jane (Zellweger) has only cared about winning; however, her world is completely turned upside down when, on the eve of the biggest case of her career, she is diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor.
While the investigation becomes more dangerous and deeply personal, Jane refuses to let her death sentence stop her from solving this case.”
Published last September, 12 Months To Live is the first book in the Jane Smith series. The second, Hard to Kill, comes out July 29. By naming the TV adaptation Jane Smith, the producers are clearly entertaining the idea of multiple installments based on subsequent novels.
Jane Smith stems from Skydance Television’s exclusive first-look deal with Patterson to develop series based on his books that came out of their collaboration on the upcoming drama Cross for Prime Video.
It marks the latest legal thriller for lawyer-turned-top showrunner Kelley, joining current entries such as Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer and Apple TV+’s Presumed Innocent, on which Johnson worked.
via: Deadline