Universal Global Television (UGT) and Patrick Macmanus’ Littleton Road Productions have acquired the television rights to Biological War: A Scenario, the latest book by Pulitzer Prize finalist and bestselling author Annie Jacobsen, writes Variety.
The deal followed a competitive bidding war.
The producers plan to present the television adaptation to potential buyers in the coming weeks.
Macmanus will co-create and executive produce the series alongside Jacobsen.
Kelly Funke will also serve as an executive producer.
Speaking about the project, Macmanus praised Jacobsen’s writing and said the story immediately captured his attention.
He described the series as beginning with an ordinary day before escalating into a global catastrophe over six days.
Despite its apocalyptic setting, Macmanus said the adaptation will focus not only on destruction but also on survival, community and the possibility of rebuilding society.
“The question at the heart and soul of our series isn’t ‘Will we survive?’ It’s ‘Who can we become?’” he said.
Macmanus added that he felt honoured Jacobsen had entrusted him with adapting the book for television.
The writer recently created Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy for Peacock and is developing a second instalment centred on serial killer Richard Ramirez under his overall production deal with UGT.
He is also adapting John Grisham’s The Boys From Biloxi for the studio.
Jacobsen is an award-winning journalist, Pulitzer Prize finalist and bestselling author.
Her 2024 book Nuclear War: A Scenario became an international bestseller and is currently being adapted into a feature film by Legendary Entertainment, with Denis Villeneuve attached to direct.
