National Geographic Channel Partners With Amblin Television for New Limited Series

National Geographic Channel has closed a drama series script development deal with Amblin Television, Sony Pictures Television and CrichtonSun for a global limited series based on the soon-to-be-published Michael Crichton manuscript called “Dragon Teeth.” Adapted for television by writers Graham Yost (“Justified,” “The Pacific,” “From the Earth to the Moon”) and Bruce C. McKenna (“The Pacific,” “Band of Brothers”), Crichton’s “Dragon Teeth” follows the notorious rivalry between real-life paleontologists Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh during a time of intense fossil speculation and discovery.

The scoop: The story unfolds through the adventures of a young fictional character named William Johnson who is apprenticed first to one, then to the other, and not only makes discoveries of historical proportion, but transforms into an inspiring hero only Crichton could have imagined.

“This epic tale of science, adventure and exploration from master storyteller Michael Crichton is the perfect scripted project for the network,” said Carolyn Bernstein, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Scripted Development and Production, National Geographic Channel. “With Amblin, Sony Pictures Television, CrichtonSun and the distinctive creative voices of Graham and Bruce, we are going to tell the dramatic story of these two passionate mavericks, Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh, and their relentless, passionate, and oftentimes unscrupulous drive in the name of scientific discovery, mixed with the very unique and brilliant Crichton touch and approach.”

Executive producing for Amblin Television are Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey, and Sherri Crichton and Laurent Bouzereau for CrichtonSun.