"Crusoe" washes up on U.S. TV network schedule

By Nellie Andreeva and Kimberly Nordyke

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Watch out, "Lost" and "Survivor": NBC is bringing the original desert island castaway to primetime.

The network has ordered 13 episodes of "Robinson Crusoe", a drama series based on Daniel Defoe's classic novel, and plans to launch it this fall or midseason 2009, depending on whether there will be an actors strike in the summer.

"Crusoe" reportedly came out of an unorthodox brainstorming idea of new NBC chief Ben Silverman, who asked his development team to generate a list of the most engaging stories ever told -- ranging from "The Last of the Mohicans" to "Sleeping Beauty". "Crusoe" was at the top of that list. Also high on it and under serious consideration at the network are the tales of David and Goliath and Jekyll and Hyde, sources said.

"Crusoe" will be an "adrenaline-charged version" of the 1719 novel with a contemporary feel and voice, including a 21st century take on race relations, but it will be a period drama, taking place in the 17th century when the book is set.

"It's part 'MacGyver,' part contemporary morality tale about race and personal discovery, part comedy and part 'Castaway' meets 'Survivor'," Silverman said.

Like the novel, NBC's series will centre on Crusoe and his relationship with his loyal servant Friday. But in addition to their adventures overcoming marauding militias, hungry cannibals, wild cats, starvation and apocalyptic lightning storms described in the book, the series will introduce additional characters and elements, including a MacGyver-like knack of the lead character for making handy tools and devices out of common items.

In keeping with the main character's British roots, the title role probably will likely be played by a U.K. actor, although an Australian also is a possibility. Australia is being eyed as a shooting location.

"Crusoe" is the first series adaptation of Defoe's tale, often considered the first novel in English, since a 1964 French series that starred Robert Hoffmann.