ABC has ordered a limited series about the Cold War, explains the Hollywood Reporter. The new program, based on the book “Circle of Treason: A CIA Account of Traitor Aldrich Ames and the Men He Betrayed”, is slated to premiere in 2014.
The network has secured the small-screen rights to the book “Circle of Treason: A CIA Account of Traitor Aldrich Ames and the Men He Betrayed”, by retired CIA officers Sandra Grimes and Jeanne Vertefeuille. The effort, titled the Assets, will explore CIA members’ personal stories about the conclusion of the Cold War. The order comes as a result of the success of spy drama the Americans, which touches on similar subject matter for FX. In addition, BBC is working on a project centered on the Cold War, entitled Legacy.
ABC Entertainment Group boss Paul Lee spoke of his interest to make a strategic push into the limited series space during a conference call with reporters in May, says the Hollywood Reporter. At the time, Lee described a desire to break up 24-episode season of certain serialized shows into two uninterrupted groups of twelve and then fill the gap with limited series. Lee pointed to unscripted adventure series The Quest as an example.
The Assets will be produced by Lincoln Square Productions, with Morgan Hertzan, Rudy Bednar and Andrew Chapman serving as executive producers. Lincoln Square produced ABC’s Final Witness last year, another lower-budget, multipart true-crime series that combined re-creations and documentary elements. The Assets is expected to air in 2014.