EXCLUSIVE: Paramount Television Studios has signed a first-look deal with Jessica Biel and Michelle Purple’s Iron Ocean, the first such pact for Paramount’s recently revived television studio. The first project under the agreement is spy thriller The Ambler Warning, based on Robert Ludlum’s bestseller, with Biel set to star and executive produce.
Jason Horwitch (Echo 3, Fight Night) is attached to write the adaptation and serve as showrunner on the The Ambler Warning, which reimagines the book’s male protagonist Hal Ambler as Erica Ambler, played by Biel. While on assignment, CIA Case Officer Erica Ambler (Biel) suffers a devastating injury, waking up without her memories in custody at a supermax prison for the world’s deadliest spies. Erica must figure out who she is and who she can trust, while piecing together the clues that will prevent a lethal attack on American soil.
Horwitch will executive produce alongside Biel and Purple for Iron Ocean and Ben Smith and Jeffrey Weiner for Captivate Entertainment (the Jason Bourne series). The Ambler Warning will be produced by Paramount TV Studios, Iron Ocean and Captivate Entertainment.
Watch on Deadline
Biel and Purple were originally in talks with Skydance Television for The Ambler Warning and a first-look deal. Following Skydance’s August acquisition of Paramount Global, the conversations migrated to Paramount TV Studios, the new streaming-focused studio comprised of Skydance Television and Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios. It is run by former Skydance TV President Nick Thunell.
“We are so excited to be partnering with Matt Thunell and the team over at Paramount Television Studios. We have been long time fans of Skydance, which is where our conversations with Matt first started, and now to be bringing that deal to our previous home at Paramount Television Studios feels full circle,” Biel and Purple in a joint statement. “We can’t wait to get started creating content with a team that is as passionate about Iron Ocean’s mission as we are. Ambler Warning is just the beginning.”
Biel and Purple’s Iron Ocean, launched by the duo in 2007 with a mission to amplify female voices, had two back-to-back first-look deals at the previous incarnation of Paramount TV Studios, which was shut down in 2024. The remainder of their second pact finished up at CBS Studios, which at the time absorbed PtvS’ slate, with a 7th Heaven reboot stemming from the deal still in development there.
Iron Ocean’s series credits include USA Network’s The Sinner, Hulu’s Candy, and Prime Video’s recent hit thriller The Better Sister — all of them starring Biel — as well as Facebook Watch’s Limetown and Freeform’s Cruel Summer, which is eying a revival with a third installment in development.
“I have always admired the incomparable Jessica Biel and Michelle Purple, and the high-quality, audience-pleasing series they make” said Thunell, President of Paramount TV Studios. “We are thrilled to welcome Iron Ocean to Paramount Television Studios and launch our partnership with Ambler Warning as the first project.”
Paramount TV Studios’ blended slate includes such series as Landman, Tulsa King, Lioness, The Agency, MobLand, Mayor of Kingstown and School Spirits for Paramount+; Dexter: Resurrection for Showtime; Reacher, Cross, and The Runarounds for Prime Video; Foundation for Apple TV+; Emily in Paris and XO, Kitty for Netflix; and The Road for CBS.
The Amber Warning was an incomplete manuscript at the time of Ludlum’s 2001 death. His estate brought in an author and an editor to finish it, and the sky thriller novel was published by St. Martin’s Press in 2005.
The deal for The Amber Warning follows the big bidding war this past summer for Ludlum’s ‘Jason Bourne’ And ‘Treadstone’ book series, which was won by NBCUniversal. Captivate Entertainment and the Robert Ludlum Estate are repped by WME.
Biel earned an Emmy nomination for her starring role in Season 1 of The Sinner anthology series. Outside of scripted series, Iron Ocean has produced the film The Book of Love, starring Biel, Jason Sudeikis and Maisie Williams, and Investigative Discovery’s Fatal Destination true-crime docuseries. Biel next stars opposite John Cena in Sam Hargrave’s action-adventure Matchbox from Apple Original Films, Skydance, and Mattel Films. She and Iron Ocean are repped by UTA, LBI Entertainment and The Lede Company. Biel is also repped by Yorn Levine Barnes.
Horwitch recently served as executive producer and showrunner on the Peacock limited series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist. He also executive produced Apple TV+’s Echo 3 and was executive producer/showrunner on Epix’s Berlin Station. He is repped by WME and Manage-ment.