Netflix has ordered a TV adaptation of the film Man on Fire, based on A.J. Quinnell’s thriller novels Man on Fire and The Perfect Kill, the first two parts of a five-book series.
According to a press release from the streaming service, the eight-episode series will tell the story of John Creasy, a broken ex-mercenary on a mission to avenge the death of his only friend, while protecting his fallen comrade’s daughter from the forces that destroyed her family.
Denzel Washington played Creasy in the 2004 movie. Dakota Fanning portrayed the nine-year-old girl he was hired to protect.
The film grossed $130 million worldwide on a reported budget of about $60 million.
Prior to Washington’s role, the character was played by Scott Glenn in a 1987 Italian movie version.
Writer and producer Kyle Killen will write and executive produce the new series. Killen’s previous work includes Fear Street: Part One, and most recently Halo. His Chapter 11 company colleague Scott Pennington will join him in executive producing.
Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Bill McGoldrick, and Juan Alfonso from Chernin Entertainment will also serve as executive producers. Additional executive producers include Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan and Michael Schaefer who are part of New Regency Productions, the company that controls the rights to the property and financed Tony Scott’s film.
Quinnell’s Man on Fire novel was published in 1980. In 1992, he released The Perfect Kill, followed by The Blue Ring, Black Horn and Message from Hell, which ended the book series in 1996.
Casting details on the new TV series will be announced later.
