Full Breakdown
ABC Develops “The Naturalist” TV Adaptation
6/19/2026, 12:53:50 AM
Series Development Announcement
ABC has entered active development on a procedural drama based on Andrew Mayne’s “The Naturalist” novels. The project will follow a “brilliant but socially estranged biologist who uses the laws of animal behavior to hunt human predators,” with the protagonist harboring his own dark secrets. Development is underway at the network, with a pilot script in progress.
Source Material and Reception
Mayne’s series began with the 2017 novel *The Naturalist* and continued with *Looking Glass* (2018), *Murder Theory* (2019) and *Dark Pattern* (2019). The books have achieved Amazon Charts bestseller status, and the first novel earned a 2019 International Thriller Writers Award nomination for best original paperback novel.
Creative Leadership
The pilot will be written by Andrew Karlsruher, known for work on *MacGyver* and *CSI: Cyber*. Executive producers include Danny Cannon—director of the original *CSI* pilot—and Veritas Entertainment co-founders Peter Jaysen and Alan Gasmer. Veritas Entertainment, the production house behind projects such as *Vikings* and *Fahrenheit 451*, is handling the adaptation.
Quantitative Highlights
- Four novels published to date.
- Amazon Charts bestseller designation for the series.
- International Thriller Writers Award nomination for the inaugural novel.
Strategic Fit for ABC
The adaptation aligns with ABC’s recent programming shift toward novel-based procedurals, following successes such as *Big Sky*, *Will Trent* and *R.J. Decker*. Adding a scientifically driven mystery format expands the network’s procedural portfolio and leverages the popularity of Mayne’s thriller franchise.
Official Statements & Responses
Industry reports note that ABC has formally acquired the adaptation rights and is moving forward with development. Veritas Entertainment’s executives are positioned to shepherd the project, while Cannon’s involvement signals continuity with the network’s established procedural style. No direct network statement was provided in the source material.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources agree on the series’ premise and creative team but differ on how the novels will be translated to episodic television. One analysis highlights uncertainty about whether the show will follow a case-of-the-week structure, blend original stories, or extend beyond the existing four books.
Verbatim Quotes
- “brilliant but socially estranged biologist who uses the laws of animal behavior to hunt human predators.” — Variety description
- “The Naturalist” book series … is an Amazon Charts bestseller, and the first installment was nominated for an International Thriller Writers Award for best original paperback novel in 2019. — Variety
- “The Naturalist book series covers Though only in the pilot stage of development at the time, The Naturalist already proves to be a perfect fit for ABC's recent shifts in programming.” — ScreenRant
- “Shows like Will Trent have simultaneously mixed adapting their books directly with original stories to meet the case-of-the-week formula, thus allowing them to run even longer than their source material.” — ScreenRant
- “What's currently unclear about The Naturalist is exactly how it will be translating its novel franchise into series form.” — ScreenRant
Future Outlook
With the pilot script underway, ABC is expected to evaluate the episode for series pickup in the coming months. Should the adaptation prove successful, the network may commission additional seasons and potentially encourage Mayne to produce new installments to sustain long-term storytelling.
