Alex Delaware Series Based On Books In Works At Amazon MGM Studios From Writer Jennifer Johnson
EXCLUSIVE: Amazon MGM Studios is developing Alex Delaware, a TV adaptation of the long-running psychological crime book series by Jonathan Kellerman. The studio has secured the rights to all novels in the series, believed to be 41, with Jennifer Johnson (Washington Black) as writer and executive producer.
Word is that the series project would start off by adapting the first book, the 1985 “When the Bough Breaks.”
The novels focus on brilliant but reluctant L.A. psychologist Alex Delaware who teams with hard-nosed LAPD detective Milo Sturgis to unravel complex, often disturbing murders by reading the minds, motives, and hidden histories behind the evidence.
Michael Rosenberg (Hung) also serves as executive producer along with Kellerman, and Rachel Ghiazza and Jackie Levine via Audible. Amazon MGM Studios is the studio.
There have been multiple attempts to adapt the Alex Delaware books for television, including 12 years ago by Fox with Jerry Bruckheimer TV and former CSI: NY showrunner Pam Veasey and nine years ago by IDW Entertainment. The IP fits into Prime Video’s crime thriller drama brand that includes such series as the Bosch franchise and Cross.
Johnson is an EP on Amazon MGM Studios and Outlier Society’s upcoming Creed universe series Delphi with Marco Ramirez. She previously executive produced Hulu’s Washington Black and co-executive produced Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop and ABC’s Designated Survivor. Her series credits also include Cold Case, which she ran in its final two years, Lost, for which she shared a WGA Award, and Fox’s Alcatraz, on which she also served as showrunner. Johnson, who created the NBC/Bruckheimer TV series Chase, is repped by WME, Untitled Entertainment and Johnson Shapior Slewett & Kole.
Rosenberg has served as Head of Television at Untitled Entertainment and EVP/Head of U.S. Television at Entertainment One. His producing credits also include Skins, The Riches, Rogue, Klondike and Hell on Wheels.
Kellerman, who is a clinical psychologist, is the author of more than fifty crime novels. Along with the Alex Delaware series, he has authored The Butcher’s Theater, Billy Straight, The Conspiracy Club, Twisted, True Detectives, and The Murderer’s Daughter. With his wife, Faye Kellerman, he co-authored Double Homicide and Capital Crimes. With his son, Jesse Kellerman, he co-authored The Burning, Half Moon Bay, A Measure of Darkness, Crime Scene, The Golem of Hollywood, and The Golem of Paris.
