SCOOP

Just days after the death of NSYNC and Backstreet Boys Svengali Lou Pearlman, two Boston writers announced they are producing a limited TV series about the corrupt boy band impresario and his relationship with Rich Cronin, the Kingston singer who fronted LFO.

Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge, authors of the book “Boston Strong,” which is the basis for the upcoming Mark Wahlberg flick “Patriots Day,” teamed up with New Bedford-bred producer Ted Collins on the “Billion Dollar Sound,” based on Cronin's unpublished memoir.

“It's the story of a local kid who was seduced by fame and fortune by this Svengali-like character,” Sherman told the Track. “It's about a brilliant, charismatic guy, but there's something wrong with him.”

Sherman said Southie actor Jay Giannone, who has appeared in dozens of movies, including “Patriots Day,” brought the project to them after he acquired Cronin's book.

“He was friends with Jay and is still friends with his brother,” Sherman said. “The book is written like it was done by a 5-year-old but it takes us right into that world in a raw, realistic way.”

Cronin, who died of leukemia in 2010, had a No. 1 hit with “Summer Girls” in 1999. But in an interview with Vanity Fair before his death he said he saw very little money from it.

Pearlman made millions from NSYNC — which launched Justin Timberlake's career — the Backstreet Boys and other acts he managed, but ended up in legal battles with almost all of them, accused of cheating the musicians and lining his own pockets. There were also allegations of sexual abuse.

Pearlman, 62, died in a Miami prison Friday where he was serving a 25-year sentence after being convicted of running a half-billion-dollar Ponzi scheme in 2008.