“The Handmaid’s Tale” star Elisabeth Moss’s next project is another book adaptation, according to an announcement from BBC America on Tuesday.
Moss will be starring and executive producing a period mini-series adaptation of “Fever,” a novel by Mary Beth Keane about “Typhoid Mary,” the woman who was discovered to be a healthy carrier of the sometimes deadly typhoid fever.
“I’m so honored to be working with the incredible team of collaborators we have pulled together with Phil, Robin, BBC America and Annapurna,” Moss said in a statement. “I look forward to telling this story about one of the most infamous women in America, ‘Typhoid Mary,’ a woman whose true tale has never been told.”
“Typhoid Mary,” or Mary Mallon, was an immigrant in early 20th century New York who found work as a cook. However, at every job she held, people seemed to come down with typhoid fever. She changed jobs multiple times, but at each of those places, multiple people became ill. She is believed to have infected around 22 people, with three of them ultimately dying.
Mallon was eventually taken into custody and quarantined, but always maintained she did nothing wrong.
“She is incredibly complicated, something I seem to enjoy playing,” Moss said of the character.
The former “Mad Men” actress acquired the rights to the book and teamed up with Phil Morrison (“Junebug”), who is signed on to direct. Robin Veith (“True Blood”) is tapped to write the screenplay and will also executive produce. Annapurna’s Sue Naegle and Megan Ellison, along with Morrison, are also executive producing.
Moss is currently starring in the Hulu adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s book “The Handmaid’s Tale.” She’s also set to star in the second season of “Top of the Lake” for SundanceTV.