Roman Polanski was originally interested to direct all of the episodes and Lionsgate Television executives were flown to Paris for an exclusive interview and meeting with Polanski to discuss the Joshua D. Maurer outline and pitch. Polanski approved of Maurer's original contemporary and new interpretation of the novel but eventually passed as it conflicted with his schedule.
City Entertainment's Executive Producers Joshua D. Maurer and Alixandre Witlin originally acquired the underlying rights from the estate of the author and sold it to Lionsgate as miniseries television event, based on Maurer's original uncredited pitch and treatment to set the story in contemporary Paris.
Executive Producers Joshua D. Maurer, Alixandre Witlin and David Stern originally acquired the literary rights upon which the miniseries is based. But their collective window was very small and mandated by a complicated IP ownership window that lapsed at Paramount which allowed them only 12 months from purchase to acquire, develop, produce and then air the film all within one year.
The miniseries was initially supposed to be directed by Roman Polanski. Lionsgate reached out to him directly when the creative decision was made by Maurer to set in in Paris and using Maurer and Abbott's detailed story treatment, Lionsgate Television executives flew to Paris to meet with Polanski to discuss but in the end his scheduling did not allow him to proceed and Agnieszka Holland was hired to direct.
Executive Producer Joshua D. Maurer reached to his old friend Kevin Beggs at Lionsgate Television and pitched him the concept and Beggs agreed to partner.