CBS to Adapt James Patterson Novel for Television

CBS is planning to create a drama series based on mystery author James Patterson's upcoming novel entitled "Private."

According to Variety.com:

"Twentieth Century Fox TV and Imagine TV are behind the project, which has received a script plus penalty commitment from the Eye...'Private' centers on ex-Marine and former CIA agent Jack Morgan, who takes over his father's detective and security business.'"

Jason Cahill, a consulting producer on Fox's science fiction series "Fringe," will write the script.

Patterson co-wrote "Private" with Maxine Paetro, who also penned the biography "Dream Lovers, the Magnificent, Shattered Lives of Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee by Their Son, Dodd Darin" in 1993.

"Private" is due to be released on June 28.

The Variety.com article goes on to say:

"Cahill will exec produce the project, along with Imagine's Brian Grazer and David Nevins. Patterson would also get a credit."

Cahill's previous credits include writing several episodes of NBC's "ER" and ABC's "NYPD Blue."

"Private" is not the first time a Patterson novel has been adapted for both the small and big screens. The author's other collaboration with Paetro, the Women's Murder Club Series, was a short-lived ABC drama series. In addition, Patterson's "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas" and "First to Die" were adapted into television movies and his thrillers such as "Kiss the Girls" and "Along Came a Spider" were adapted into feature films starring big name Hollywood celebrities.