Ansel Elgort heads to the small screen to star in new TV series Tokyo Vice for WarnerMedia streaming service
Ansel Elgort is heading to the small screen for his first ever television series with the new program Tokyo Vice for the WarnerMedia streaming service.
WarnerMedia has handed out a straight-to-series order with a 10-episode first season, according to a Variety report.
The project is based on Jake Adelstein's 2009 non-fiction book of the same name, which details his time as the first non-Japanese reporter working for a major Japanese newspaper, Yomiuri Shinbun.
Ansel on TV: Ansel Elgort is heading to the small screen for his first ever television series with the new program Tokyo Vice for the WarnerMedia streaming service
Adaptation: The project is based on Jake Adelstein's 2009 non-fiction book of the same name, which details his time as the first non-Japanese reporter working for a major Japanese newspaper, Yomiuri Shinbun
Elgort will star as Adelstein, with the show following his time as as a journalist working the vice beat for the newspaper, where he embeds himself within the Tokyo Vice police squad.
The series will delve into Adelstein's descent as he uncovers police corruption and sinks deeper and deeper into the Tokyo crime underbelly.
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The author originally tried to get the book published in Japan, but he could not secure publication there and ultimately published it at Random House.
Journalist: Elgort will star as Adelstein, with the show following his time as as a journalist working the vice beat for the newspaper, where he embeds himself within the Tokyo Vice police squad
J.T. Rogers will write the adaptation with Destin Daniel Cretton (Short Term 12) set to direct, with John Lesher, Emily Gerson Saines, and Elgort serving as executive producers.
Tokyo Vice marks the first ever television role for Elgort, who will next be seen on the big screen in The Goldfinch, hitting theaters September 13.
He also stars in the upcoming adaptation of West Side Story from director Steven Spielberg, which hits theaters December 18, 2020.
New to TV: Tokyo Vice marks the first ever television role for Elgort, who will next be seen on the big screen in The Goldfinch, hitting theaters September 13; pictured with girlfriend Violetta Komyshan on April 30 in NYC
Tokyo Vice was originally slated to be adapted as a film, with the adaptation first announced in 2013.
Author Jake Adelstein came up with the story for the adaptation with J.T. Rogers, who then went on to write the movie script.
Daniel Radcliffe was tapped to play Adelstein at the time, but the project fell apart and filming never took place, leading to the adaptation shifting to the small screen.
Film before TV: Tokyo Vice was originally slated to be adapted as a film, with the adaptation first announced in 2013
This is just the latest of several projects in the works for WarnerMedia's upcoming streaming service, which will include content from DC, Looney Tunes, Turner, The CW and CNN.
Also in development for the streaming service are a Gremlins animated series and an adaptation of the Over My Dead Body podcast for producer Elizabeth Banks.
Elgort is also attached to star in Finest Kind, a heist drama set in Boston, alongside Zendaya and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Coming soon: Elgort is also attached to star in Finest Kind, a heist drama set in Boston, alongside Zendaya and Jake Gyllenhaal
