Aaron Sorkin will stage a live version of his 1989 stage play “A Few Good Men” on NBC in early 2017, the network announced Wednesday.
“I am thrilled that Aaron Sorkin is coming back to NBC to adapt and produce a live broadcast of his electrifying play ‘A Few Good Men,’ which seems as timely as ever today,” said Robert Greenblatt, Chairman of NBC Entertainment.
“Aaron is one of the most acclaimed theater, television and film authors of our time, and I am pleased that the live event business that we pioneered with musicals is now expanding into other genres and attracting artists of his caliber” Greenblatt continued. “I look forward to his collaboration with our ‘A-team’ producers, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, to bring another exciting piece of live drama to a broad audience.”
Sorkin made his professional writing debut when he wrote “A Few Good Men,” which premiered on Broadway in 1989 at the Music Box Theatre to critical acclaim. Three years later he adapted the play as a feature film that went on to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.
Set in 1986 and taking place in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, “A Few Good Men” centers on military lawyer Lt. Daniel Kaffee, who is asked to defend three Marines on trial for murder. Tom Hulce was nominated for a Tony Award for his portrayal of Kaffee on Broadway. Tom Cruise played Kaffee in the film.
For the NBC version, which will be based on the original stage play, Sorkin will write the teleplay adaptation and also executive produce along with Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who have worked on previous NBC live shows such as “Sound of Music Live” and “The Wiz Live.”
Universal Television will produce in association with Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. Television.
This marks NBC’s first live drama since the network began reinvigorating live programming in 2013 with “The Sound of Music Live,” starring Carrie Underwood. That was followed by musicals “Peter Pan Live” and last year’s “The Wiz Live.”
Sorkin is a six-time Emmy winner for “The West Wing,” which ran for seven seasons on NBC and was a four-time winner for best drama. The series depicted the inner workings of the White House and its ambitious staff, all who served under the leadership of Democratic President Josiah Bartlet (Martin Sheen).