A Marley & Me Sequel TV Series is in Development

The feature-to-TV adaptations continue to increase with NBC today buying the rights to a primetime series pilot based on Marley & Me, the 2008 dramedy starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston and based on the New York Times bestselling autobiographical book by journalist John Grogan.

Emmy-winning “Sex and the City” alumna Jenny Bicks will write the script for the project, for which the film’s helmer, David Frankel, will return to direct. Deadline says that 20th Century Fox TV is behind the series.

Here’s how the trade describes the pilot, which picks up where the movie left off. “John and Jenny Grogan and their three kids, a 16-year-old boy and a 13-year-old and 6-year-old girls, have just moved back to Florida so that John can take up his newspaper column once again. However, when a stray puppy ends up on their doorstep, they are forced to adopt it. This dog, named Marley for the fact that they use Marley?s old leash and tags on her, is as will-full, destructive and delightful as her original namesake. And she will help shed light not only on the growing pains of the Grogan family, but also the lives of the neighbors, and fellow dog-owners, around them.”

The original film, which was distributed by 20th Century Fox, earned $242.7 million at the worldwide box office.