Lionsgate Adapting Jerusalem as First U.K. Original

Lionsgate Television UK has acquired the rights to develop the non-fiction novel Jerusalem from historian and novelist Simon Sebag Montefiore as an original drama.

The series will be a character-driven, action-filled account of war, betrayal, faith, fanaticism, slaughter, persecution and co-existence in Jerusalem through the ages. Lionsgate will produce and sell global rights, including the U.S. and U.K.

The TV project is based on Montefiore’s biography, and he will act as a consultant and executive producer alongside Lionsgate.

Steve November, the creative director for U.K. television at Lionsgate, commented, “For our first television development we could not be happier or more excited than to be working with Simon to adapt his extraordinary book. Jerusalem is a compelling narrative which tells the human story of empires, nations, dynasties, politics and religions. This project will bring the story of this unique city and the people who have fought and died for it alive in an epic, dynastic television saga running through multiple seasons.”

“Jerusalem has all the ingredients to become the kind of noisy, high-end event programming that is a Lionsgate signature,” said Lionsgate Television Group’s chairman, Kevin Beggs. “Under the leadership of Steve November, working in collaboration with our U.S. creative team, this is the perfect property to launch Lionsgate Television UK’s slate of premium series for a global audience.”