Mr Mercedes Heading to TV

It had previously been mooted that Stephen King's Mr Mercedes was headed for the big screen - but it now seems like a TV series is happening instead.

A limited series is being developed by Sonar Entertainment, after Temple Hill and Media Rights Capital snapped up the rights in May last year - before the book had even been published.

Jack Bender (Lost, Under The Dome) will direct, with David E. Kelley writing the script based on the novel, which King called his first "hard-boiled detective book." It was released last month and continues King's love affair with cars, featuring a mass murdering psychopath who uses his Mercedes to drive into a crowd.

Kelley said, “This is an amazing opportunity to adapt a script from material penned by one of the world’s most acclaimed and accomplished authors. Mr. Mercedes is a great story that will translate beautifully to the screen if I don’t mess it up.”

King, who will executive produce alongside Marty Bowen, Wyck Godrey, Gene Stein, together with Kelley and Bener also stated, “I’ve admired Jack Bender’s work for years, both as a director on Lost and later Under the Dome where he really caught the suspense element. David Kelley is incredibly gifted. I’m excited to work with these amazing talents.”

[via Variety]