Weinstein Co Takes Rights To U.S. Army Sniper’s Autobiography ‘The Reaper’

Coming on the heels of the huge success of the Bradley Cooper starrer American Sniper, The Weinstein Company has acquired TV rights to Nicholas Irving’s The Reaper: Autobiography Of One Of The Deadliest Special Ops Snipers. The recently released book is the memoir by Irving, the U.S. Army 3rd Ranger Battalion’s deadliest sniper. The book, published by St. Martin’s Press, will be adapted into a five-night TV series, with production set to begin this coming summer. No network is attached.

Irving, the first African-American to serve as a sniper in his battalion, became known as “The Reaper” by the end of his active service. During a four-month period in mid-2009, Irving tallied an astounding 33 kills as a master sniper, in addition to setting records for enemy kills on a single deployment. His reputation as one of the great military snipers ever is such that he actually has an AR-15 rifle named after him. With his story, Irving gives an inside look at what those in the special operations community go through and the sacrifices they make to their country and families.

“The Reaper is a gripping story about a great American soldier that we are so proud to be a part of, said TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein. “Nick Irving’s true bravery and heroism will make for some of the most riveting television ever seen and inspire patriotism in anyone who experiences it.”

Brendan Deneen and Marc Resnick, Irving’s editor at St. Martin’s, will executive produce the project on behalf of Macmillan Entertainment. Creative executive Lauren O’Connor and Mark Velez, SVP Scripted TV, will oversee production for TWC. The deal was negotiated by Sarah Sobel, EVP Business & Legal Affairs, for TWC with Deneen at Macmillan.

TWC previously partnered with Deneen and Macmillan for the TV adaptation of Daniel Stashower’s New York Times bestselling historical detective novel, The Hour Of Peril.