CBS has chosen Ann Peacock to adapt the book The Dovekeepers for an event series. Mark Burnett and producing partner Roma Downey brought the project to the network.
According to Deadline, who first reported the news, Peacock has written several screen adaptations, including Nights In Rodanthe and The Chronicles of Narnia.
The writer has written for television before. She worked on HBO's A Lesson Before Dying, which won her an Emmy. She also did Starz's Harem.
In a phone interview Downey said, "We felt [the book] was best served if the screenplay came through the heart of a strong woman and Peacock is such a woman." She added, "I met her right before Christmas; she came to our house in Malibu and I sat her down and she clearly loved the book."
As previously reported, the Alice Hoffman historical novel is being adapted into a four-hour event series as CBS hopes to continue its success with limited series like Under The Dome.
The novel follows four women as they try to survive the siege of Masada in ancient Israel. In the real historical event, 900 Jews managed to last for months against an invading Roman army.
image: Amazon