Tom McCarthy directed the Oscar-winning 'Spotlight'
Tom McCarthy, the New Providence writer-director behind the Academy Award-winning journalism movie "Spotlight," will serve as executive producer of a miniseries about dethroned Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, The New York Times reports.
Ailes, 76, who owns a home in Cresskill, left Fox in July after he became the subject of numerous sexual harassment allegations, starting with former Fox host Gretchen Carlson, who filed a lawsuit in Bergen County against Ailes after her contract was not renewed. Carlson claimed that Ailes made sexist comments and retaliated against her after she turned down his advances.
In September, Carlson settled with Fox for $20 million, while Ailes is rumored to have received $40 million to leave Fox.
Gabriel Sherman, the New York magazine writer who closely covered Ailes for years, has also signed on to the TV project alongside McCarthy, who won an Oscar for best original screenplay for "Spotlight." The miniseries will draw on Sherman's stories and material from his book about Ailes, "The Loudest Voice in the Room."
The Times reports that Jason Blum ("The Normal Heart," "The Purge," "The Jinx") will produce the series. No network has yet been linked to the project.
Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook.