Universal Cable Productions is developing a TV series based on “Dr. Death,” the popular true-crime podcast from Wondery.
The adaptation will be penned by “Happy!” showrunner Patrick McManus.
“Dr. Death” is based on the true story of Dr. Christopher Duntsch, a rising star in the Dallas medical community. Young, charismatic and ostensibly brilliant, Dr. Duntsch was building a flourishing neurosurgery practice when everything suddenly changed. Patients entered his operating room for complex but routine spinal surgeries and left permanently maimed or dead. As victims piled up, two fellow surgeons and a young assistant district attorney set out to stop him. “Dr. Death” explores the twisted mind of a sociopath and the gross negligence of the system designed to protect the most defenseless among us.
Along with MacManus, Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch will executive produce for Escape Artists, as well as Hernan Lopez and Marshall Lewy of Wondery Podcasts.
Wondery is the same the company behind “Dirty John,” which UCP developed for Bravo. The series has a two-season order with Connie Britton and Eric Bana starring in the first season. UCP also has its adaptation of Gimlet Media’s “Homecoming” podcast, starring Julia Roberts, which will debut on Amazon in November.