NBC in talks for John Grisham's 'The Firm' TV series

Two decades after its publication, a bestselling John Grisham novel might finally come to primetime.

NBC is in negotiations for a full-season order for a project based on Grisham’s 1991 blockbuster The Firm.

A TV version of the book (which was also made into a movie starring Tom Cruise) has been making the rounds for years and was once set up at CBS. The original story follows an ambitious young attorney who’s unwittingly hired by a crime organization’s legal outfit.

Grishman is on board as a non-writing executive producer, with former Law & Order producer Lukas Reiter as showrunner and eOne Television as the primary production company, which is also selling the show internationally. If it closes, the straight-to-series order will be for 22 episodes.

The Firm sold 7 million copies and helped launch the modern legal thriller novel genre. The story always seemed like a potential solid fit for a cable channel like FX or AMC, but seems challenging for broadcast.

What do you think: Would you stay tuned after, say, The Biggest Loser to watch NBC’s The Firm?