Lionsgate Television will tell the origin story of Twitter based on Nick Bilton‘s New York Times best-seller Hatching Twitter: A True Story of Money, Power, Friendship, and Betrayal.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the studio will team with The Hunger Games‘ Allison Shearmur to develop the project. Bilton will write the script and serve as a producer for the project. The project gives a behind-the-scenes look into how the social media site started and evolved into the top social media site it is today.
“I am thrilled to work with Allison Shearmur and Lionsgate to adapt my book about the power, betrayal and billions of dollars that swirl through Silicon Valley,” Bilton said. “The story of Hatching Twitter really speaks to a generation that has searched for friendship through technology and it will be very exciting to see it brought to life on screen.”
The best-seller highlights the relationships, battles, power struggles and betrayals of what Lionsgate calls “the most talked-about books of the year.” It was named one of the best books of the year by The Economist, Gizmodo, Mashable and was Amazons Best Book of the Month in November.
“Twitter has transformed almost every aspect of our lives from politics to business to friendship, and I can’t think of a more compelling story to adapt for television right now,” Kevin Beggs, Lionsgate TV Group chairman, said. “Nick’s book has all the elements of a great drama with its complex characters, high-stakes power struggles and betrayed friendships, and we’re extremely fortunate to have Alli Shearmur on-board as executive producer.”
The former president of motion picture production at Lionsgate Shearmur said, “Hatching Twitter will go behind the scenes of a groundbreaking Silicon Valley company in a way that’s never been captured before on television. The Social Network was a perfect film, and this series will be different, providing a longer view of the work life changes, gamesmanship and personal sacrifices made by a group of individuals who are building a company that will change the way that people communicate.”
Lionsgate has found success with series Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black. It also produces AMC’s Mad Men, ABC’s Nashville, Showtime’s Nurse Jackie and History’s Houdini miniseries.