SK Global, Project Brazen to adapt scandal podcast with Peter Chiarelli

US-based studio SK Global is teaming up with journalism-focused content studio Project Brazen and Crazy Rich Asians co-writer Peter Chiarelli on a TV adaptation of the ‘Fat Leonard’ US Navy scandal.

Peter Chiarelli

The TV adaptation is based on Project Brazen’s investigative podcast called Fat Leonard, with Chiarelli signing on to adapt the true story of one of the American military’s biggest national security breaches.

In the podcast, corrupt military contractor Leonard Glenn Francis (aka Fat Leonard) spoke exclusively for the first time about stealing tens of millions of dollars through deals with the US.

The project reunites SK Global, the studio behind Crazy Rich Asians, with scribe Chiarelli, whose other writing credits include Crazy Rich Asians 2 and the 2009 film The Proposal. He is also currently writing an as-yet-unannounced project for Warner Bros.

For London- and Singapore-based Project Brazen, the adaptation represents its first coproduction deal as it looks to move further into the TV space after launching last year. Founded by bestselling authors and Pulitzer finalists Tom Wright and Bradley Hope, the company finances and produces podcasts, docs, series and films.

Meanwhile, SK Global finances, develops and produces film and TV and has operations in LA, New York, Mumbai and Singapore. It was launched in 2017 by co-chairman Sidney Kimmel and co-CEO John Penotti. Charlie Corwin is the other co-CEO.

The company is in development on several sequels and spin-offs to Crazy Rich Asians and recently optioned the rights to adapt author Dean Koontz’s latest series of 12 short thrillers for television.

Earlier this year, SK Content acquired US unscripted producer Critical Content, which produces shows including MTV’s Catfish.