Lifetime Orders ‘The Clan Of The Cave Bear’ Pilot

Lifetime has ordered a new drama pilot The Clan of the Cave Bear, based on Jean M. Auel’s series of best-selling novels, the network announced Wednesday.

The movie, a co-production with Fox 21 and Lionsgate in association with Imagine Television and Allison Shearmur Productions, follows the life of a young cro-magnon child raised by Neanderthals. The series will be executively produced by  Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind, Rush) and Oscar® and Emmy® Award winner Brian Grazer (A Beautiful Mind, 24), along with Allison Shearmur (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Cinderella), Francie Calfo (Gang Related, Empire) and Auel.  Linda Woolverton (Maleficent, The Lion King), will write the pilot, according to Lifetime.

“With the visionary creative team of Ron Howard, Linda Woolverton, Brian Grazer, Alli Shearmur, Jean M. Auel and Francie Calfo behind it, this project has it all -- epic storytelling, great characters and a unique world that’s never been explored on television before,” said Rob Sharenow, executive vice president and general manager of Lifetime in a statement. “This is exactly the type of top-tier creative talent and great stories we embrace at Lifetime.”

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.