Series based on Stephen King's 'Mr. Mercedes' in development

Sonar Entertainment announced on Tuesday that it’s developing Stephen King’s 2014 detective novel Mr. Mercedes as a limited series for television.

The novel, the first in a projected trilogy, tells the story of a psychopathic killer who drives his Mercedes into a crowd and a recently retired cop who tries to bring him down. The second novel, Finders Keepers, will be published in May.

“This is an amazing opportunity to adapt a script from material penned by one of the world’s most acclaimed and accomplished authors,” said David E. Kelley, who will write the script, in a statement to EW. “Mr. Mercedes is a great story that will translate beautifully to the screen if I don’t mess it up.”

Director Jack Bender (Lost, Under the Dome) and Kelley will executive produce with Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey of Temple Hill Entertainment and Gene Stein.

“The incredible talent we’ve been able to assemble is truly a creative dream team,” said Stein. “That, combined with a story that, in classic Stephen King style, grabs you from the first page and never lets go for a moment, ensures that this will make thrilling television. I’m so excited to be working with Stephen, David, Jack, Marty and Wyck.”

“I’ve admired Jack Bender’s work for years, both as a director on Lost and later, Under the Dome, where he really caught the suspense element. David Kelley is incredibly gifted,” King added. “I’m excited to work with these amazing talents.”