Broadway Director Scott Ellis to Helm NBC's A FEW GOOD MEN LIVE

At today's Variety's annual TV Summit held at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills, playwright Aaron Sorkin revealed the news that Scott Ellis will direct NBC's upcoming live adaptation of A FEW GOOD MEN. The 'West Wing' scribe said of the multi-Tony nominated Broadway director, "I couldn't be more excited."

Ellis directs the current revival of Roundabout Theatre Company's SHE LOVES ME. His other Broadway credits include "Steel Pier," "1776," "Twelve Angry Men," "Curtains," "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" and "You Can't Take It with You." He also served as executive producer on Showtime's "Weeds" and has directed episodes of "Modern Family," "Nurse Jackie," "The Good Wife," "Desperate Housewives," "Frasier" and "30 Rock," for which he was nominated for an Emmy.

During today's event, director Kenny Leon, who helmed NBC's recent live broadcast of THE WIZ! joked, "If something happens to Scott, let me know. I'm waiting in the wings!"

Aaron Sorkin's A FEW GOOD MEN is set to air on NBC in early 2017. Sorkin's play first 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 ("Amadeus") was nominated for a Tony Award for his portrayal of Kaffee on Broadway.

For NBC's "A Few Good Men," which will be based on the stage version, Sorkin will write the teleplay adaptation and also executive produce along with Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. Casting and a specific airdate in early 2017 will be announced at a later date.

"A Few Good Men" marks NBC's first live drama since the network began reinvigorating live programming in 2013 with the hugely popular production of "The Sound of Music Live," starring Carrie Underwood. That was followed by musicals "Peter Pan Live" and last year's "The Wiz Live," which was critically acclaimed as well as the most tweeted-about special program (excluding awards shows and political events) since Nielsen Social began tracking Twitter TV activity.

Source: Variety

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