Nat Geo Adapting Bill O'Reilly's 'Killing Lincoln' With Tony and Ridley Scott

9:46 AM PST 1/12/2012 by Lesley Goldberg

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The two-hour documentary will include re-enactments, rare historical archives and CGI and air next year.

Killing Lincoln Bill O'Reilly Cover - P 2012

Nat Geo is entering the Bill O'Reilly business.

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The cable network is adapting O'Reilly and co-author Martin Dugard's best-seller Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination That Changed America Forever, a thriller detailing how one gunshot permanently changed the country.

The two-hour documentary will be produced with Tony and Ridley Scott and will transition O'Reilly's narrative style and detail to the screen complete with feature-like re-enactments, rare historical archives and CGI and bow early next year on the National Geographic Channel. O'Reilly will serve as an exec producer.

“National Geographic has a great legacy of telling some of history’s most riveting stories,” O’Reilly said in a statement. “The assassination of President Abraham Lincoln is no exception as it continues to be one of the most significant, life-changing events in America’s young history. Ridley and Tony Scott are incredible directors, producers and amazing storytellers with the ability to bring this story to life in a way no one else can.”

O'Reilly anchors Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, the highest-rated cable news show in the country, and pens a syndicated newspaper column in addition to being an author of such politically themed books as Pinheads and Patriots.

Bringing the Fox News commentator to Nat Geo is a natural fit for National Geographic Channel, a joint venture between National Geographic and Fox Cable Networks.

The Scotts, who will produce via their Scott Free Productions banner, have several TV projects in production. The duo also is developing a drama exploring diamond trading with AMC.

Lincoln marks one of first projects greenlighted under new Nat Geo president Howard T. Owens. A formal announcement is expected to come Friday during the network's presentation at the Television Critics Association's winter press tour.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit