Amazon MGM Studios has won a competitive bidding situation to develop a one-hour series based on the short story «Shadow Work» by Adrienne Miller, according to sources familiar with the deal. Miller, an accomplished author and former Esquire literary editor, will write the pilot herself and serve as an executive producer on the project.
The series marks another high-profile literary adaptation for Amazon, which has increasingly invested in prestige television built from acclaimed source material. Miller's involvement as both writer and executive producer signals a strong creative commitment to preserving the voice of her original story, a factor that likely helped Amazon prevail in the competitive situation.
Marc Resteghini, a former Amazon executive, will executive produce through his Jack Tar Pictures banner. Resteghini's prior tenure at Amazon gives the project an insider connection to the studio, though the deal was struck through his independent production company. His producing credits and familiarity with Amazon's development process could help streamline the series as it moves from pilot script toward a potential greenlight.
The short story «Shadow Work» has not yet been publicly detailed in terms of plot or themes, but the title suggests an exploration of psychological or emotional undercurrents — the kind of interior, character-driven material that has become a staple of prestige streaming drama. Miller's literary background, which includes her novel «The Coast of Akron» and her memoir «Hammer» about her time in the male-dominated magazine industry, positions her as a distinctive voice in contemporary fiction.
Amazon MGM Studios has been aggressive in acquiring literary properties for adaptation, competing against other streamers and networks for sought-after material. The company's strategy has included both high-concept genre fare and more grounded, author-driven projects, with the latter often attracting top-tier writing talent eager to adapt their own work.
The development deal does not guarantee a series order; the project will first proceed through script development and pilot evaluation. However, the combination of Miller's direct involvement and Resteghini's production experience gives the adaptation a solid foundation as it enters the competitive television landscape.
For Miller, the project represents an expansion into television writing after years of work in publishing and literary fiction. Her decision to adapt her own short story rather than hand it off to another writer reflects a growing trend of authors taking active roles in screen adaptations of their work, particularly in the streaming era where limited series and one-hour dramas have become attractive formats for short-form literary material.
Further details about casting, episode count, and production timelines have not been announced. The project remains in early development at Amazon MGM Studios.