ITV Studios America Chief Philippe Maigret on ‘Franklin’s’ Journey to Canneseries Premiere

variety.com:

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Apple TV+’s “Franklin,” which stars Michael Douglas, has its world premiere at series festival Canneseries on April 10 in Cannes, France.

The show is produced by ITV Studios America and Apple Studios. Variety spoke to Philippe Maigret, president and managing director, ITV Studios America, who is an executive producer on the period drama. “Franklin’s” journey to the screen began when producer Tony Krantz optioned Stacy Schiff’s book “A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America.” Starting in December 1776, “A Great Improvisation” follows Benjamin Franklin, best known as an inventor, as he travels from Britain’s colonies in America on a secret mission to enlist France’s support in the War of Independence, which the Americans are losing.

In 2017, Krantz, who had a first-look deal with ITV Studios America through his company Flame Ventures, suggested that Maigret read the book. “We immediately realized we shared the same passion for the story of this period of history and also realized that this was a book that was uniquely set to be adapted into an event premium limited series,” Maigret says.

What attracted him to Schiff’s book was that it has characters that are “intriguing and multifaceted” and a story that has “elements of a spy thriller,” but is also “a relationship driven drama,” containing “a game of seduction.” Kirk Ellis, who received two Emmys for “John Adams,” came on board to adapt the book, but a number of years passed while the project was developed. “It took quite a bit of time because we needed to assemble the right creative team, find the right network or streaming service, overall, the right partners who would share not only our passion to.