Novelists lending their talents to the world of US TV is becoming an increasingly popular activity. Crime writer George Pelecanos was heavily involved in the latter stages of The Wire, while it was recently announced that chef-turned-author Anthony Bourdain was joining the Treme writing team.

Now British-Indian novelist Salman Rushdie is joining these celebrated writers with a new drama series project for Showtime called Next People. Rushdie will write the script for the project (as well as acting as executive producer), which will follow characters who hail from different parts of contemporary American life.

Rushdie has certainly had plenty of dramas from his life to draw upon for his work. His 1988 novel The Satanic Verses drew protests from Muslims groups in several countries and a fatwa was actually issued against him. Author of over 15 novels, he was awarded a Knighthood in 2007.

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