‘Downton Abbey’ Producer Carnival Films To Develop Drama About Winston Churchill

EXCLUSIVE: Downton Abbey is painting a fascinating picture of Britain’s society in the early 20th century. Now the company behind the Emmy-winning drama, London-based Carnival Films, is revisiting the time period with another drama project, this time through the eyes of one of the country’s most famous politicians, Winston Churchill. The NBCUniversal-owned company has optioned Michael Shelden’s true-life Edwardian saga, Young Titan, to develop into a series first for the UK, and then take it to the U.S. and global markets. Published in March by Simon & Schuster, the book tells the colorful story of Churchill’s early career, from 1901 to 1915, at the height of England’s imperial glory. American-born Shelden, repped by The Friedrich Agency, wrote for the London Daily Telegraph for 15 years, and was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his biography of George Orwell. CAA  brokered the rights deal on his behalf.