Los Angeles, Jan 11 (PTI) A television series based onGregory David Roberts Mumbai-set novel, "Shantaram", is in theworks.
Paramount Television and its frequent collaboratorAnonymous Content have landed the rights to the best-sellingnovel after a month-long, multiple outlet bidding war,according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The mob drama was previously supposed to be a featurefilm, featuring Joel Edgerton and Amitabh Bachchan, withJohnny Depp and Brad Pitt as producers and Mira Nair asdirector.
The two companies have also acquired the rights toRoberts' follow-up novel, "The Mountain Shadow".
Anonymous Content's Nicole Clemens and Steve Golin, andAndrea Barron will executive produce.
"As a huge admirer of the material, I've been trackingthis book for more than a decade," Golin said in a statement.
"Shantaram" is a semi-autobiographical novel about anescaped Australian convict who finally ends up in Mumbai'sunderworld.
Roberts said, "I'm honored and humbled in equal measureas a writer, and thrilled for the many readers who have hopedthat 'Shantaram' would become a vivid screen experience.
"Television is the perfect medium for the novel, andSteve Golin and Nicole Clemens at Anonymous Content are theperfect partners." PTI RDSBK.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.