Per Deadline, Julian Fellowes (The English Game, Doctor Thorne), of Downtown Abbey fame, is set to write and executive produce a television adaptation of Swiss-American author Donna Leon’s (The Jewels of Paradise) Detective Brunetti book series.

The project was originated and set up at 20th Television by Fellowes’ longtime friend and mentor, producer Ileen Maisel (Big Rad Wolf), who died in February at 68. She had been with the studio since 2018, when she signed a first-look deal with its former division, Fox21.

Maisel will serve as EP on the series alongside Fellowes, PK Fellowes (Life in Non League), Lawrence Elman (How the World Went Mad, Criminals) and musician Gesine Lubben. Author Leon will co-executive produce, and playwright Felix Legge (Chekhov’s Baby) will serve as co-writer and producer.

While the setting will be contemporary, the network’s official description of the series pays homage to a literary classic, its first line echoing the opening line of Anna Karenina: “Unhappy detectives are all alike; a happy detective struggles to stay happy in their own way. In fading Venice, far from the tourist crowds, detective Commissario Brunetti faces a daily battle to protect his city, and his family, from the harsh realities of murder, corruption, and, of course, the interference of his aristocratic in-laws.”

This is a rare venture into contemporary material for Fellowes, whose career as a writer has been devoted to period movies and TV series. His filmography includes his Oscar-winning feature writing debut, Gosford Park; his Emmy-winning Downton Abbey series, which spawned a successful movie franchise; his current hit, HBO’s The Gilded Age, which has been nominated for Outstanding Drama Series; and Epix+’s Belgravia.

Fellowes’ very first writing credit was on a 1980 detective series titled Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson. His most notable contemporary work, arguably, was serving as co-writer on the 2010 feature The Tourist, starring Angelina Jolie (Entourage, Kung Fu Panda Holiday) and Johnny Depp (21 Jump Street, Hotel), which also was set in Venice. However, it was likely Fellowes’ close relationship with Maisel, whom he honored with a loving tribute following her death, that led him to the Brunetti television series.

Leon’s Brunetti franchise, about fictional detective Guido Brunetti, launched with the 1992 novel Death at La Fenice. The book series, noted for its characters, mysteries and authentic portrayal of ordinary Venetian life, has grown to 33 novels (and counting) over the past 32 years, most recently A Refiner’s Fire, released earlier this year. The Washington Post named it one of the Best Mystery Books of 2024. The Brunetti novels have sold millions of copies and have been translated into 35 languages, although notably not in Italian. The first 26 novels were adapted into a German TV series titled Donna Leon.

Fellowes is currently filming the third season of The Gilded Age and is in post-production on the third Downton Abbey movie, which is set for release in September 2025. He is represented by UTA and 42; Legge is represented by 42.