Nick Bilton to Write and Produce TV Project Based on 'Hatching Twitter'

Lionsgate Television is teaming with Allison Shearmur to develop Nick Bilton's book Hatching Twitter: A True Story of Money, Power, Friendship, and Betrayal.

"Twitter has transformed almost every aspect of our lives from politics to business to friendship, and I can't think of a more compelling story to adapt for television right now," Lionsgate TV Group chairman Kevin Beggs said, as quoted in The Hollywood Reporter. "Nick's book has all the elements of a great drama with its complex characters, high-stakes power struggles and betrayed friendships, and we're extremely fortunate to have Alli Shearmur on board as executive producer."

Bilton is a columnist and reporter for The New York Times. For the Twitter project, he will pen the script and serve as a producer. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film "tells the behind-the-scenes account of how the social media site was created by four friends and evolved into the valuable asset it is today."

If the film is anything like its original book, it will find an audience and become a success. Hatching Twitter was named one of the best books of the year by several groups and publications, including The Economist, Gizmodo and Mashable. It was also an Amazon Best Book of the Month in November. The book was released on Nov. 5 and became a New York Times bestseller.

"Hatching Twitter will go behind the scenes of a groundbreaking Silicon Valley company in a way that’s never been captured before on television,” said Shearmur, as quoted in a Variety article. “‘The Social Network’ was a perfect film, and this series will be different, providing a longer view of the work life changes, gamesmanship and personal sacrifices made by a group of individuals who are building a company that will change the way that people communicate.”

In other recent Hollywood news, Harvey and Bob Weinstein, who founded Miramax in 1979 and sold it to Disney, have struck a new production and distribution deal with the company. Check out the ScreenCraft post.