Variety has announced Scarlett Johansson is making her first leap to prestige TV as she will lead Prime Studio’s miniseries Just Cause, a new adaptation of the 1992 book by John Katzenbach. The series will be written and executive produced by American Fiction director Cord Jefferson.
Just Cause will see Johansson as Madison Cowart, a female iteration of the novel’s protagonist Matt Cowart. The miniseries will follow “Cowart after receiving a letter from a death row inmate claiming innocence. The ensuing investigation not only casts doubt on the inmate’s guilt but also uncovers other hidden horrors.”
Just Cause was first adapted as a feature film in 1995, which coincidently is also one of Johansson’s earliest film roles as she starred alongside Sean Connery as his 10-year-old daughter. The film also featured Blair Underwood, Laurence Fishburne, Ed Harris, Ruby Dee and Kate Capshaw.
Jefferson will write the series with John Wells (Shameless), who will also executive produce. Johansson will executive produce through her company Three Pictures alongside Jonathan Lia and Keenan Flynn from These Pictures, and Erin Jontow from John Wells Productions.
Jefferson’s debut film American Fiction has been nominated for several awards through various ceremonies. The film, which he wrote and directed based off the book Erasure, has earned Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Best Score and Best Actor and Supporting Actor for Jeffery Wright and Sterling K. Brown respectively.
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