Following an extremely competitive bidding war, Showtime has given a straight-to-series order for a TV adaptation of the novel The President Is Missing (to be released in June 2018) written by former President Bill Clinton and acclaimed novelist James Patterson.
The project tells the startling story of a sitting U.S. president's disappearance, with the level of detail that only someone who has held the office can know - generating a powerful, one-of-a-kind thriller. The story brings to life the pressures and realities of the most important position in the world.
Showtime will be the sole studio on the series, which gives it full ownership rights to the series. A showrunner, additional executive producers and an exact episode count will be announced at a later date.
"Bringing The President Is Missing to Showtime is a coup of the highest order," said David Nevins, CEO, Showtime. "The pairing of President Clinton with fiction's most gripping storyteller promises a kinetic experience, one that the book world has salivated over for months and that now will dovetail perfectly into a politically relevant, character-based action series for our network."
"I'm really enjoying writing this book and working with Jim," added Clinton. "And I can't wait to see Showtime bring the characters to life."
"The White House is such an exciting world to explore and is made even more so with the unique insights of a former president. Rich storytelling opportunities for this series abound," said Patterson.
