Renée Zellweger directs adaptation of James Patterson’s novel at Max

Getty Images

Renée Zellweger is set to star in a series adaptation of the novel “12 Months to Live,” which is currently being developed at Max. diversity have learned.

The project is currently titled “Jane Smith,” named after the novel’s main character, who Zellweger will play. The book was written by James Patterson and Mike Lupica, with Miki Johnson set to adapt it for the screen and serve as showrunner. The novel was originally scheduled to be released in September 2023, with the second novel in the series, “Hard to Kill,” set to be released on July 29.

The official description of the series states that it is “about a brilliant, tough and darkly funny criminal defense attorney in the Hamptons. Up until this point, Jane has only cared about winning; but her world is turned upside down when she is diagnosed with a fatal brain tumor on the eve of the biggest case of her career. As the investigation becomes more dangerous and personal, Jane will not let her death sentence stop her from solving the case.”

Johnson is an executive producer on the series in addition to writing and directing. Zellweger will executive produce alongside Carmela Casinelli under the Big Picture Co. banner. Patterson will executive produce alongside Bill Robinson and Patrick Santa for James Patterson Entertainment. David E. Kelley is an executive producer alongside Matthew Tinker and Checka Propper of David E. Kelley Productions. David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Matt Thunell are executive producers for Skydance Television. The series is produced by Skydance TV and MGM Television. Big Picture Co. currently has a first-look deal with MGM Television.

“Jane Smith” falls under Skydance TV’s deal with Patterson to develop a series of series based on his books. Next under the deal, Amazon will debut the series “Cross,” starring Aldis Hodge and based on Patterson’s Alex Cross novels, on Prime Video starting November 14. Skydance also produces book-to-series adaptations such as “Reacher,” “Foundation” and “Jack Ryan.”

Zellweger has won two Academy Awards – one for Best Supporting Actor for Cold Mountain and one for Best Actress for Judy. She has also been nominated for her roles in Chicago and Bridget Jones’s Diary. She has also won four Golden Globes for Cold Mountain, Chicago, Nurse Betty and Judy. She made her series debut on regular television in the Netflix series What/If and recently starred in the true crime miniseries The Thing About Pam on NBC.

She is repped by CAA, John Carrabino Management and imPRint.

Johnson recently collaborated with Kelley on the Apple TV+ series “Presumed Innocent.” Kelley developed the series for television, with Johnson serving as co-executive producer. Her other credits include “Ozark,” “Hell on Wheels” and “Ray Donovan.” She is repped by CAA and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.