Nat Geo has killed “Killing Patton”: Bill O’Reilly’s latest planned TV movie adaptation has been canceled by the cable channel, TheWrap has confirmed.
“It was in development for a couple of years, and it was a difficult project to crack creatively,” the network said in a statement Thursday. “Like most projects in development, it didn’t go the distance, so we passed on it.”
O’Reilly was fired in April from by his longtime employer Fox News, following reports that he and the cable news channel had settled multiple sexual harassment claims filed against the “O’Reilly Factor” host, totaling $13 million.
Back on April 19, right after O’Reilly was shown to FNC’s exit door, Nat Geo was not sure what to do with “Patton.”
“‘Killing Patton’ is currently in early development for 2019 as has been widely reported,” a company spokesperson told TheWrap at the time. “We’re not making any decisions at the moment beyond our current upfront slate.”
Much was riding on the decision, as O’Reilly’s “Killing” adaptations had proven a boon for National Geographic Channel, TV ratings-wise.
“Killing Patton” was set to adapt the 2014 nonfiction book of the same title about the death of WWII General George Patton, which was written by O’Reilly and Martin Dugard. Executive producers were O’Reilly, Ridley Scott, David Zucker and Mary Lisio. Clayton Krueger was co-executive producer.
The group’s latest venture was intended to follow in the footsteps of other O’Reilly book adaptations, such as “Killing Reagan,” “Killing Lincoln,” “Killing Kennedy” and “Killing Jesus.”
The Hollywood Reporter first reported the news of Nat Geo’s decision to drop the project.