Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: NBC has teamed with The Walking Dead executive producer Gale Anne Hurd for 11th Commandment, a series adaptation of UK author Jeffrey Archer’s 1998 novel The Eleventh Commandment. British writer Patrick Harbinson (Person Of Interest, 24) is writing the script for the project, produced by Universal Cable Prods., where Hurd’s Valhalla Entertainment is under a deal. 11th Commandment centers on Connor Fitzgerald, who has been leading a secret life as the CIA’s most deadly assassin when he decides to pull back to spend more time with his wife and family. But his worlds are about to collide when he is set up by someone within the CIA for an assassination he didn’t commit. “This is a fantastic character-driven story of an assassin who in the employ of the U.S. government,” Hurd said.

The project originated a year ago when Valhalla teamed with Canada’s New Franchise Media, which owns rights Archer’s novel, to develop a series adaptation. Hurd took the project to UCP when she signed a pod deal there in April and Harbinson was brought in to write. Harbinson and Hurd will executive produce with Jeffrey Steiner, CEO/owner of New Franchise Media.

This marks the first major sale at NBC for UCP this season, its second selling to the broadcast networks. “This was a dream package to take out to buyers and we’re thrilled that we get to develop it with our sister network NBC,” UCP SVP development and current programming Maira Suro said. Harbinson is with ICM Partners.

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