Bill Clinton’s novel to become TV series

Clinton flew to LA to personally pitch the story

Los Angeles: Bill Clinton and bestselling author James Patterson’s upcoming thriller novel, The President Is Missing, will be turned into TV series by Showtime.

The novel, set to be published in 2018, tells the story of a sitting US President’s mysterious disappearance with the level of detail that only someone who has held the highest office can know, reported Entertainment Weekly.

“I’m really enjoying writing this book and working with Jim. And I can’t wait to see Showtime bring the characters to life.

“The White House is such an exciting world to explore and is made even more so with the unique insights of a former President. Rich storytelling opportunities for this series abound,” Clinton said in a statement.

Showtime is turning The President Is Missing into a full-blown ongoing drama series. “Bringing The President Is Missing to Showtime is a coup of the highest order.

“The pairing of President Clinton with fiction’s most gripping storyteller promises a kinetic experience, one that the book world has salivated over for months and that now will dovetail perfectly into a politically relevant, character- based action series for our network,” said Showtime president and CEO David Nevins.

Clinton flew to LA last month to personally pitch the story to Hollywood, according to Deadline.

Competition was fierce, but the CBS-owned cable network beat out at least eight rivals — including Netflix and Ron Howard all offering in the “low to mid-eight figure range,” because chairman Les Moonves is pals with both Clinton and Patterson, Variety reports.