Have you seen the amazing 1998 spy thriller Ronin? Starring Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, Natascha McElhone, Stellan Skarsgård and Sean Bean..? If you haven’t, go and watch it, right now.

Written by J.D. Zeik and David Mamet and directed by John Frankenheimer, it features the best filmed car chase set piece in any movie, ever. Seriously, go round to a friend’s house who has a 65″ TV and sit about three feet away from it, in a comfortable chair, with all the lights dimmed…and we guarantee you’ll have a ride better than most rollercoasters as you weave through traffic on the busy streets of Paris.

And now, it seems, Michael Hirst wants to somehow adapt this phenomenal thriller into a TV series. Creator and showrunner for the acclaimed History Channel show Vikings, Hirst has formed a new independent production company with longtime producing partners Morgan O’Sullivan and James Flynn. Called Green Pavilion Entertainment, it was formed to “develop and produce high-end dramas for international and domestic markets and is set to work with established writers and directors, alongside emerging talent,” Hirst said.

“Green Pavilion has been a long time in the making. Everyone involved in this new venture has experience developing and making premium content which appeals to international audiences. Having MGM Television as an ally in this venture will help us to build on our strengths and draw the best writers, directors and creative talent in the industry to our projects.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hirst’s Green Pavilion Entertainment has entered into a multiyear, first-look agreement with MGM Television. As part of that deal, it is bringing Ronin to the small screen.

Sharon Remmer (The Man in the High Castle, Medici: Masters of Florence) is being brought aboard as creative director. Hirst, O’Sullivan and Flynn previously collaborated with MGM TV on Vikings, which was recently renewed for a sixth season.

Steve Stark, MGM’s president, television production and development, added, “Michael Hirst, Morgan O’Sullivan and James Flynn have brilliantly shepherded Vikings for the past five years and, during that time, we have witnessed first-hand the quality of artists and talent that this team have expertly assembled to produce premium content on a massive scale. We look forward to continue working with their whole team at Green Pavilion.”

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