Lionsgate Names Writer Neil Jordan to Adapt Simon Sebag Montefiore’s “Jerusalem” for Television

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Lionsgate Television UK announced today that iconic award-winning writer Neil Jordan (The Crying Game, Mona Lisa, End of the Affair) will adapt Jerusalem into a major television series based on the #1 UK non-fiction bestseller from acclaimed novelist and historian Simon Sebag Montefiore.

As previously announced, Montefiore will act as consultant and executive producer alongside Lionsgate, using his vast and intimate knowledge of the subject to help shape and guide the series. Lionsgate will produce and sell global rights, including the U.S. and UK, to a series that will be a character-driven, action-filled account of war, betrayal, faith, fanaticism, slaughter, persecution and co-existence in the universal city through the ages.

Steve November, Creative Director UK Television commented, “Neil’s calibre and experience makes him a perfect fit for the material. I couldn’t have hoped for anyone more suited to the job to attach themselves to this exciting project”.

“We’re thrilled to add an elite talent of Neil Jordan’s magnitude to our world-class creative team on Jerusalem,” said Lionsgate Executive Vice President and Head of Worldwide Scripted Television Chris Selak. “We’re assembling all the key elements to make Jerusalem a blockbuster series for a truly global audience, and it reflects the quality, excitement, and significance of the slate of event properties that we’re developing in our Lionsgate UK television business.”

“I am delighted that Neil Jordan is writing and developing an exciting narrative TV drama series from my Jerusalem book. I have always been an admirer of Neil’s films. I am so happy to be working with a great company like Lionsgate and Neil in bringing Jerusalem to the screen” comments Simon Sebag Montefiore.

Neil Jordan added, “I can’t think of better partners than Lionsgate and Simon to realise the scope and ambition of Jerusalem for today’s global TV audiences. It is an honour and a privilege to come on board.”