The Weinstein company has acquired the TV rights to “The Reaper,” an autobiography from former U.S. Army sniper, Nicholas Irving.
TWC plans to begin production this summer on a five-part event series based on the memoir.
“’The Reaper’ is a gripping story about a great American soldier that we are so proud to be a part of,” TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein said in a statement. It’s a thrill to be teaming up with Brendan Deneen, Marc Resnick and the entire Macmillan team once again for this groundbreaking, multi-night television event. Nick Irving’s true bravery and heroism will make for some of the most riveting television ever seen and inspire patriotism in anyone who experiences it.”
Nicknamed “The Reaper” by his battalion, Irving became one of its deadliest snipers, breaking records for enemy kills in a single deployment. The first African-American ever to serve as a sniper in his battalion, Irving gives an inside look at his development in the military, what those in the special operations community go through and the sacrifices they make to their country and families.
Deneen and Irving’s editor at St. Martin’s, Marc Resnick will executive produce the project on behalf of Macmillan Entertainment. Creative executive Lauren O’Connor and Scripted TV senior vice president Mark Velez will oversee production for TWC.
Business & Legal Affairs executive vice president, Sarah Sobel, negotiated the deal for TWC with Deneen at Macmillan.
TWC previously partnered with Deneen and Macmillan for the television adaptation of Daniel Stashower’s New York Times bestselling historical detective novel, “The Hour of Peril.”
The deal arrives as Warner Bros. film “American Sniper” is dominating the box office and awards nominations. And NBC recently ordered a drama pilot about a former sniper titled “Endgame” from Sony Television.
