Shane Black Developing Series Adaptation of the Bannerman Spy Novels for AMC
AMC Networks has acquired the rights to John Maxim’s popular Bannerman spy book series, and Shane Black (Lethal Weapon, The Nice Guys, Iron Man 3) is on board to develop a series adaptation. Greg Nicotero (The Walking Dead, Creepshow) and Brian Witten (Creepshow, Friday the 13th) are also involved as producers on the series.
There are five books in the franchise and they consist of The Bannerman Solution, The Bannerman Effect, Bannerman’s Law, Bannerman’s Promise and Bannerman’s Ghosts. If you’re not familiar with the books, here’s a description:
“Paul Bannerman was once his nation’s deadliest weapon – a top covert operative heading up the most lethal group of contract agents and network specialists in all of Europe. Now Bannerman is a liability – an unpredictable loose cannon that could irreparably damage America’s shaky intelligence structure, if he chose to. So the decision has come down from the top: Bannerman and his people must be eliminated. Suddenly death is running in Westport, Connecticut – one in a nationwide network of secret ‘halfway towns’ where the country’s most dangerous former agents have been ‘retired.’ At war with powerful elements within his own government – a war not of his making – Bannerman has been lured here to this place of yard sales, mini-vans, commuter trains, and murder. The plan is for Bannerman and those he ran to die here, quietly. But Bannerman has other plans.”
Black said in a statement: “Maxim is an untapped national treasure, and AMC provides a proper fit. It’s time.” This is going to be a perfect project for Black to take on and I think he’s going to have a lot of fun bringing these stories to life.
Nicotero added: “I read this entire series years ago and found the contrasting worlds of these dark and tortured souls desperate to live normal lives quite compelling. To partner with Shane on this, who shares the same passion that I do for the books, takes this project to a whole other level.”
This is gonna be good!