Toronto’s Elevation Pictures, Conquering Lion Pictures and The Good Karma Company are collaborating on a crime drama series, The Count.

The Count is set to begin pre-production in 2023, with Hubert Davis (Giants of Africa, Black Ice) and Clement Virgo (Brother, The Wire) signed as directors. Elevation Pictures co-president Noah Segal (Alice, Darling), Damon D’Oliveira (Brother, The Book of Negroes) and Virgo of Conquering Lion Pictures, and Vinay Virmani (Black Ice) of The Good Karma Company will serve as executive producers.

Loosely based on Alexandre Dumas’ 1846 adventure novel The Count of Monte Cristo, the series will provide a modern take on the story and follow a Haitian basketball player convicted of a murder he did not commit. The series will travel between Toronto and Haiti, according to a news release.

The announcement comes after the three companies each unveiled world premieres of features at the 42nd edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, which wraps this coming Sunday (Sept. 18):  Virgo and D’Oliveira with Brother; Virmani with Black Ice; and Elevation with Alice, Darling. Elevation was also distributor on a number of titles at TIFF.

Segal said in a statement that after they saw the success of their titles at the fest, “it was clear that now was the time to move forward with this project,” adding that it will be fast-tracked and brought to buyers this fall.

Virgo added that adapting the novel to a contemporary setting will open “the classic story for a whole new generation.”

Image courtesy of Elevation Pictures. Top (left to right): Damon D’Oliveira, Vinay Virmani; Bottom (left to right): Clement Virgo, Hubert Davis