Showtime to Adapt Upcoming Bill Clinton-James Patterson Novel ‘The President Is Missing’
Network acquires the rights to thriller set to be published in 2018
Reid Nakamura | September 22, 2017 @ 8:00 AM
Last Updated: September 22, 2017 @ 8:06 AM
Getty Images
Showtime has acquired the rights to adapt the upcoming novel from Bill Clinton and James Patterson, the network announced on Thursday.
“The President Is Missing,” a thriller co-written by the former president and the bestselling author, is set to be published in June 2018 and Showtime now owns rights to adapt the highly sought after project into a series.
The book, Clinton’s first novel, was announced back in May by publishers Alfred A. Knopf and Little, Brown and Company. Few plot details are known, but the book promises to “tell 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.”
“I’m really enjoying writing this book and working with Jim,” Clinton said in a statement. “And I can’t wait to see Showtime bring the characters to life.”
“Bringing ‘The President Is Missing’ to Showtime is a coup of the highest order,” said David Nevins, Showtime president and CEO. “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.”
“The White House is such an exciting world to explore and is made even more so with the unique insights of a former President,” added Patterson. “Rich storytelling opportunities for this series abound.”
7 TV Shows to Watch Right Now Based on Books, From 'Game of Thrones' to 'Handmaid's Tale' (Photos)
Some of the hottest spring and summer shows this year are based on books. Scroll through and to find some inspiration for your beach reading.
HBO
"13 Reason Why"
This buzzy Netflix teen drama is based on Jay Asher's novel of the same name, which came out in 2007. The show drew out the story and added backstory to more characters, but otherwise stayed pretty true to the book.
Netflix
"A Series of Unfortunate Events"
Millennial nostalgia strikes again. Netflix brings Lemony Snicket's stories of the Baudelaire children to life starring Patrick Warburton and Neil Patrick Harris.
Netflix
"American Gods"
The Starz show is an adaptation of the 2001 novel by Neil Gaiman starring Ricky Whittle and Emily Browning.
Starz
"The Handmaid's Tale"
Hulu's original series starring Elizabeth Moss is based off Margaret Atwood's 1985 dystopian novel about a future in which women's rights are taken away.
Hulu
"Big Little Lies"
HBO's adaptation of Liane Moriarty's novel of the same name stars Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman and Shailene Woodley.
HBO
"Orange Is the New Black"
"OITNB" Season 5 premieres June 9, and the series is based off of Piper Kerman's memoir that tells the story of her time in prison. The show has expanded far past the book by now.
Netflix
"Game of Thrones"
Winter is finally here in the show, but the sixth book still isn't. HBO's epic show is based on a series of fantasy novels by George R.R. Martin. Five of the seven anticipated books have been published. The premiere of Season 7 is July 16.
HBO
1 of 8
Compare these novels to their small screen counterparts
Some of the hottest spring and summer shows this year are based on books. Scroll through and to find some inspiration for your beach reading.