Muse Entertainment has sold its $25 million eight-hour mini-series The Kennedys to the U.S.-based History channel.

The project, developed by 24 co-creator/executive producer Joel Surnow under contract to Montreal-based Muse, will also be directed by Canadian Jon Cassar, a co-executive producer on 24.

Los Angeles-based Cassar became available to direct the Muse project three weeks ago after DreamWorks abandoned development on Motorcade, which was to mark Cassar’s feature film directing debut.

24 writer Stephen Kronish penned all eight screenplays for the U.S. cable channel’s first foray into scripted drama, with Cassar set to start production next spring in Toronto for a 2011 airdate.

The telepic will also use Cinespace Film Studios’ White House standing sets in Kleinburg, Ontario.

Muse president Michael Prupas says cast for the mini-series have yet to be announced as the producer draws close to completing financing. Muse’s focus will now turn to selling the mini into Canada and elsewhere internationally, according to Prupas, who is producing Kennedys in association with Asylum Entertainment.

The mini-series follows the personal story of the fabled Kennedy clan from the ascent of father Joseph Kennedy, to Bobby Kennedy’s assassination in 1968, with the intervening presidency of John F. Kennedy as a dramatic lynch-pin.