FX orders The Spook Who Sat by the Door pilot from Lee Daniels

Variety

Sam Greenlee's 1969 novel on a fictional first Black CIA officer is being adapted as a TV series from Daniels, with Raising Dion vet Leigh Dana Jackson on board as writer and Gerard McMurray directing the pilot. The Spook Who Sat By The Door was previously adapted into a 1973 film with Lawrence Cook in the lead role. According to Variety, "the story follows Dan Freeman, the fictional first African American CIA officer hired by the agency in the late 1960s. The story chronicles the quest of Freeman, who was recruited as part of an affirmative-action program. After a very competitive selection process he trains in high-level combat and espionage. However, following this arduous training, this model recruit is rewarded with a post in the reprographics (aka photocopying) department, 'left by the door' as a token of the CIA’s 'racial equality.'" Daniels said of the potential series: "The Spook Who Sat By the Door was my dad’s favorite book. He’d be so proud that I’m doing this and even prouder that I’m doing this with Gerard and Dana—two bold and brilliant Black storytellers.”