Joe Otterson TV ReporterMichael Douglas will star as U.S. Founding Father Benjamin Franklin in a new limited series for Apple, Variety has learned.The untitled series is based on the book “A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America” by Pulitzer Prize winner Stacy Schiff.
Kirk Ellis, the writer behind HBO’s “John Adams” series, will write the show for Apple and serve as an executive producer.Emmy-winning director Tim Van Patten will direct and executive produce.
Douglas will executive produce in addition to starring. Richard Plepler will executive produce via EDEN Productions, which is currently under an overall deal at Apple.
Tony Krantz of Flame Ventures and Mark Mostyn also executive produce, with Schiff co-executive producing. Apple Studios and ITV Studios will co-produce.
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