Posted in: Current News, Editor's Picks TV News, Movies, Trailer, TV, YouTube | Tagged: cable, drama, Green Pavilion Entertainment, History Channel, HRL, James Flynn, jean reno, John Frankenheimer, michael hirst, Morgan O'Sullivan, Natascha McElhone, robert de niro, sean bean, series, Skipp Sudduth, spy thriller, Stellan Skarsgård, streaming, television, The History Channel, The Tudors, thriller, tv, Vikings

Vikings's Michael Hirst Adapting De Niro/Reno Spy Thriller Ronin to Series

Vikings creator and showrunner Michael Hirst (The Tudors) is hanging out the shingle on his new independent production company, and first up on its production plate is a series adaptation of the 1998 spy thriller Ronin. Formed in conjunction with longtime producing partners Morgan O'Sullivan and James Flynn, Green Pavilion Entertainment was formed to "develop and produce high-end dramas for international and domestic markets and is set to work with established writers and directors, alongside emerging talent." Hirst said of the project:

"Green Pavilion has been a long time in the making. Everyone involved in this new venture has experience developing and making premium content which appeals to international audiences. Having MGM Television as an ally in this venture will help us to build on our strengths and draw the best writers, directors and creative talent in the industry to our projects."

Reported exclusively by The Hollywood Reporter, Hirst's Green Pavilion Entertainment has entered into a multiyear, first-look agreement with MGM Television. As part of that deal, Green Pavilion is bringing the Robert De Niro/Jean Reno-starring spy thriller Ronin to series. Directed by John Frankenheimer (The Manchurian Candidate) and released in 1998, here's a trailer for the film as well as a brief overview courtesy of IMDB:

"In a Montmartre, Paris café, an Irish woman named Deirdre (Natascha McElhone) meets five men, taking them to a warehouse and briefing them on a mission. The men, Spence (Sean Bean), Larry (Skipp Sudduth), Gregor (Stellan Skarsgård), Vincent (Jean Reno) and Sam (Robert De Niro), are all former Special Forces soldiers or intelligence operatives now working as mercenaries. The team are planning to attack a heavily-armed convoy and steal a suitcase, its contents unknown…"

Sharon Remmer (The Man in the High Castle, Medici: Masters of Florence) is being brought aboard as creative director. Hirst, O'Sullivan and Flynn previously collaborated with MGM TV on the hit History Channel show Vikings, which was renewed for a sixth season.

Mark Burnett, MGM's president, television group and digital; and Steve Stark, MGM's president, television production and development, had this to add about the announcement:

"Michael Hirst, Morgan O'Sullivan and James Flynn have brilliantly shepherded Vikings for the past five years and, during that time, we have witnessed first-hand the quality of artists and talent that this team have expertly assembled to produce premium content on a massive scale. We look forward to continue working with their whole team at Green Pavilion."

Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!

Stay up-to-date and support the site by following Bleeding Cool on Google News today!