Craig Zadan & Neil Meron At Work on Flint Water Crisis Film for Lifetime

Deadline reports that THE WIZ LIVE producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are working on a television film for Lifetime based on the drinking water contamination disaster in Flint, Michigan. Titled FLINT, the original movie is currently on "fast-track development."

According to the site, the project will center on "the events that led to the 'toxic crime' committed against the residents of the town of Flint, Michigan. It is looking to shed light not only on the politics and poor management that led to the poisoning of the water, but also the human element of the residents who not only suffered, but whose voices were ignored."

The project was inspired by Josh Sanburn's 2016 Time Magazine cover story "The Toxic Tap." Sanburn will serve as consultant on the movie which will include actual Flint residents who protested the ineptness of the governor and city officials during the crisis. 2013 Nicholl Fellow Barbara Stepansky is set to pen the teleplay with Zadan and Meron executive producing.

The duo has had a recent string of ratings hits, including the record-breaking Steel Magnolias remake, and NBC's SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE and THE WIZ LIVE. They are currently at work on an upcoming live musical production of HAIRSPRAY for NBC. As BWW recently reported, they will soon take on a live staging of Aaron Sorkin's A FEW GOOD MEN.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos