John Ball’s novel, “In the Heat of the Night,” is set for a new small screen adaptation, Variety reports. The Help and Get on Up helmer Tate Taylor will executive produce alongside Warren Littlefield and John Norris, both of whom recently served as executive producers on FX’s “Fargo.”
In the Heat of the Night was adapted for the big screen in 1967 by director Norman Jewison. Starring Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger, the tale of a black detective, Virgil Tibbs, investigating a murder in a racist Mississppi town took home five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
The original film was followed by two sequels, 1970’s They Call Me MISTER Tibbs! and 1971’s The Organziation, both of which also featured Poitier in the lead. Then, in 1988, NBC began airing a television series version which starred Howard Rollins as Tibbs, although the final, seventh season featured the character only as a guest star.
The new series will be written by Taylor and will take place in present-day Mississippi. It is expected to be shopped to networks shortly, so check back for details on the project as they develop.
