Michael Crichton is coming to National Geographic Channel. Recently, the network announced they’ve ordered a new series called Dragon Teeth.
The drama is based on a manuscript by the late author of Jurassic Park, Sphere, and Prey.
From National Geographic Channel:
Crichton’s Dragon Teeth follows the notorious rivalry between real-life paleontologists Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh during a time of intense fossil speculation and discovery. The story unfolds through the adventures of a young fictional character named William Johnson who is apprenticed first to one, then to the other, and not only makes discoveries of historical proportion, but transforms into an inspiring hero only Crichton could have imagined. Known for his meticulous research, Crichton uses Marsh and Copes’s heated competition during the “Bone Wars,” the golden age of American fossil hunting, as the basis for a thrilling story set in the wilds of the American West in 1878.”
Graham Yost and Bruce C. McKenna will adapt the manuscript for television.
Read more below:
WASHINGTON & LOS ANGELES — National Geographic Channel has closed a drama series script development deal with Amblin Television, Sony Pictures Television and CrichtonSun for a global limited series based on the soon-to-be-published Michael Crichton manuscript, Dragon Teeth. Crichton wrote the novel during his most prolific years as a writer and filmmaker. The book was discovered by his wife Sherri Crichton amongst his archives and immediately identified the book as “Pure Crichton.”
Adapted for television by Emmy(R)-award winning writers Graham Yost (“Justified,” “The Pacific,” “From the Earth to the Moon”) and Bruce C. McKenna (“The Pacific,” “Band of Brothers”), Crichton’s Dragon Teeth follows the notorious rivalry between real-life paleontologists Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh during a time of intense fossil speculation and discovery. The story unfolds through the adventures of a young fictional character named William Johnson who is apprenticed first to one, then to the other, and not only makes discoveries of historical proportion, but transforms into an inspiring hero only Crichton could have imagined. Known for his meticulous research, Crichton uses Marsh and Copes’s heated competition during the “Bone Wars,” the golden age of American fossil hunting, as the basis for a thrilling story set in the wilds of the American West in 1878.
“This epic tale of science, adventure and exploration from master storyteller Michael Crichton is the perfect scripted project for the network,” said Carolyn Bernstein, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Scripted Development and Production, National Geographic Channel. “With Amblin, Sony Pictures Television, CrichtonSun and the distinctive creative voices of Graham and Bruce, we are going to tell the dramatic story of these two passionate mavericks, Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh, and their relentless, passionate, and oftentimes unscrupulous drive in the name of scientific discovery, mixed with the very unique and brilliant Crichton touch and approach.”
Executive producing for Amblin Television are Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey, and Sherri Crichton and Laurent Bouzereau for CrichtonSun.
“Given Michael’s history with Amblin, and his love of science, I am delighted to have found the perfect home for Dragon Teeth at Nat Geo,” said Sherri Crichton. “Dragon Teeth was a very important book for Michael and is another example of his immense talent and versatility as a writer and his appreciation and understanding of a great page in the history of paleontology.”
“It’s great fun to be working on a newly discovered novel from such a beloved author, whose work has been the basis of so many brilliant films and television shows,” said Helen Verno, Executive Vice President of Movies, Mini-series and Limited series for Sony Pictures Television. “Graham Yost and Bruce McKenna are uniquely suited to adapt this material given their interest in and knowledge of Cope and Marsh, and Sherri Crichton, Amblin Productions and National Geographic Channel are the greatest of partners.”
“We couldn’t be more excited to bring Dragon Teeth to the screen given the successful commercial and creative collaboration Michael and Amblin shared with the ‘Jurassic’ franchise and ‘ER,'” said Darryl Frank, and Justin Falvey, Co-Presidents, Amblin Television. “When we heard there was a soon-to-be-published manuscript from Michael, we couldn’t wait to dive into the material and it didn’t disappoint. The characters practically jumped off the page, and he brought the Old West to life in a way that’s never been portrayed before.”
They added, “We are also incredibly excited to continue our long association with Graham and Bruce, who have proven to have the ‘Midas Touch’ with all the limited series projects they have done for Steven and our company including ‘Band of Brothers’ and ‘The Pacific.'”
“It’s an honor to be part of this team, and to be carrying the Michael Crichton torch with a project as powerful as Dragon Teeth,” said Laurent Bouzereau.”
What do you think? Are you a fan of Michael Crichton? Will you watch Dragon Teeth?
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