Apple bags rights to Gregory David Roberts' novel 'Shantaram'

Apple has secured the rights of Gregory David Robert's Mumbai-set novel "Shantaram" and will be developing it as a drama series.

The 2003 novel, which has been published in 39 languages in 42 territories worldwide and sold six million copies, follows Lin, an escaped convict with a false passport who flees maximum security prison in Australia for the teeming streets of a city where he can disappear.

The 'Shantaram' series will be produced by Anonymous Content and Paramount TV, reported Variety. The two companies had earlier this year won the rights to adapt the novel.

Oscar nominated scribe Eric Warren Singer will pen the series as well as executive produce it. David Manson will also executive produce along with Nicole Clemens, Steve Golin and Andrea Barron.

The mob drama was previously being developed as a feature film, with Johnny Depp producing and Joel Edgerton as the lead. However, the project failed to take off.