AMC Networks announced that it has acquired the rights to the popular Bannerman spy book series written by bestselling author John Maxim. The novels are being developed as a potential television series by Shane Black (Lethal Weapon, Ironman), Greg Nicotero (The Walking Dead, Creepshow) and Brian Witten (Creepshow, Friday the 13th). Jeffrey Maxim is also attached as a consulting producer. Nicotero has an overall deal with AMC Networks.
The book series consists of five titles: the Bannerman Solution, The Bannerman Effect, Bannerman’s Law, Bannerman’s Promise and Bannerman’s Ghosts.
Black said: “Maxim is an untapped national treasure, and AMC provides a proper fit. It’s time.”
Nicotero said: “I read this entire series years ago and found the contrasting worlds of these dark and tortured souls desperate to live normal lives quite compelling. To partner with Shane on this, who shares the same passion that I do for the books, takes this project to a whole other level.”
Bannerman Solution synopsis: Paul Bannerman was once his nation’s deadliest weapon – a top covert operative heading up the most lethal group of contract agents and network specialists in all of Europe. Now Bannerman is a liability – an unpredictable loose cannon that could irreparably damage America’s shaky intelligence structure, if he chose to. So the decision has come down from the top: Bannerman and his people must be eliminated. Suddenly death is running in Westport, Connecticut – one in a nationwide network of secret “halfway towns” where the country’s most dangerous former agents have been “retired.” At war with powerful elements within his own government – a war not of his making – Bannerman has been lured here to this place of yard sales, mini-vans, commuter trains, and murder. The plan is for Bannerman and those he ran to die here, quietly. But Bannerman has other plans.