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‘Biological War’ TV Adaptation in the Works at Universal Global Television and Patrick Macmanus’ Littleton Road Productions (EXCLUSIVE)
Universal Global Television and Patrick Macmanus's Littleton Road Productions have acquired television rights to "Biological War: A Scenario," the new novel by journalist and Pulitzer Prize finalist Annie Jacobsen, following a competitive bidding war. The project matters as another high-profile move by studios to adapt Jacobsen's speculative, non-fiction-style scenarios for television and film, building on the success of her previous bestseller in the same style, and it extends Macmanus's growing overall deal at UGT into another prestige true-crime-adjacent drama space.
Macmanus and Jacobsen will co-create and executive produce the series, alongside fellow executive producer Kelly Funke, with the adaptation to be shopped to buyers in the coming weeks. The book imagines a routine day spiralling into global catastrophe within six days, but Macmanus has described the planned series as focused on themes of community, rebuilding and renewal rather than nihilism. He is also currently developing a Richard Ramirez-focused follow-up to his Peacock series "Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy" and an adaptation of John Grisham's "The Boys From Biloxi," while Jacobsen's earlier book "Nuclear War: A Scenario" is separately being adapted by Legendary Entertainment with Denis Villeneuve directing.
In short
- UGT and Patrick Macmanus win rights to Jacobsen's "Biological War" novel
- Macmanus and Jacobsen to co-create and exec produce TV adaptation
- Follows Jacobsen's "Nuclear War" book, also being adapted with Denis Villeneuve
Explained simply
Annie Jacobsen is a journalist and Pulitzer Prize finalist whose books imagine detailed scenarios of potential global catastrophes. Her work combines careful research with speculative storytelling to explore how societies might respond to major crises.
Biological War: A Scenario imagines how a routine day could escalate into a worldwide catastrophe over the course of six days. The novel focuses not on the disaster itself, but on how communities might rebuild and recover in its aftermath.
Television and film studios have shown considerable interest in adapting Jacobsen's scenario-based novels for the screen. Patrick Macmanus, a television producer, is leading the adaptation alongside Jacobsen herself, continuing the trend of bringing her distinctive work to audiences.
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