David Cronenberg Teaming With MRC to Adapt 'Knifeman' for TV (Exclusive)

Director David Cronenberg is heading to the small screen.

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The History of Violence helmer is teaming with Media Rights Capital for his first foray into television. He will direct the pilot as well as serve as an executive producer on Knifeman, based on biography by Wendy Moore.

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The drama, which has yet to be shopped to buyers, focuses on the trials and triumphs of a radical, self-educated surgeon, delivering a visceral portrait of the extraordinary and unorthodox lengths he will go to uncover the secrets of the human body. Cronenberg will be a partner on the project, much as David Fincher is on MRC’s House of Cards, set to debut on Netflix this year.

Knifeman is being written by Emmy-nominated writer-producer Rolin Jones (Friday Night Lights, Weeds, Smash) with the story by Jones and Ron Fitzgerald (Friday Night Lights). The MRC project will count Cronenberg and Jones, along with the Stars Road team of Sam Raimi, Josh Donen and Robert Zotnowski as executive producers. Sentient’s Renee Tab is attached as a co-executive producer as well. The team's next step is casting a lead.

Cronenberg, who recently wrapped filing on Cosmopolis, based on the Don De Lillo novel and starring Robert Pattinson, Paul Giamatti and Juliette Binoche, is repped by WME, Sentient Entertainment and Behr & Abramson. His credits include such projects as Eastern Promises, M. Butterfly and A Dangerous Method.

Email: Lacey.Rose@THR.com; Twitter: @LaceyVRose