Variety has learned from sources that David E. Kelley is eyeing a TV adaptation of Bonfire of the Vanities.
Kelly is set to write a television adaptation of the popular Tom Wolfe novel for Apple TV. Kelley will also serve as executive producer under his David E. Kelley Productions. Matt Reeves will serve as director and executive producer through his Sixth and Idaho Productions. Sarah Geismar also serves as executive producer on Six and Idaho, and Matthew Tinker will executive produce through his David E. Kelley Productions. The studio is Warner Bros. Television.
A representative for Apple TV declined to comment.
The Bonfire of the Vanities was originally published as a series in Rolling Stone in 1984, and was published in full in 1987. This book explores life in New York City in 1987 from the perspective of Sherman McCoy, a Wall Street bond trader. After an incident in the Bronx, the yuppie lifestyle begins to fall apart. The book was made into a film in 1990 starring Tom Hanks, Kim Cattrall, Melanie Griffith, and Bruce Willis.
Kelly is one of the most prolific TV creators alive, having created multiple series for Apple TV. He is originally the developer and executive producer of the streamer’s hit series “Presumed Innocent.” The series will return for a second season. He is also the writer, showrunner and executive producer of the upcoming Apple series “Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” which premieres April 15. Kelly’s other recent television credits include Netflix’s “The Lincoln Lawyer,” HBO’s “Big Little Lies” and Hulu’s “Nine Perfect Strangers.”
Reeves is best known for his work in film, having directed films such as Cloverfield, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, War for the Planet of the Apes, and Batman, on which he also co-wrote two of the films. He has produced television shows such as HBO’s popular limited series “The Penguin,” Amazon’s “Tales from the Loop” and Netflix’s “Away.”
Kelly and David E. Kelly Productions is repped by CAA, Gendler Kelly & Cunningham, and Narrative PR. Reeves is repped by CAA, 3 Arts Entertainment, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.
