Apple TV to Adapt Tom Wolfe’s Searing Satire ‘The Bonfire of the Vanities’ with David E. Kelley and Matt Reeves
Tom Wolfe’s satirical novel from the 1980s, The Bonfire of the Vanities, is set to be adapted into an Apple TV series. The project will be penned by acclaimed writer David E. Kelley, known for his work on Presumed Innocent, with Matt Reeves, director of The Batman, serving as executive producer and director.
The series, produced by Warner Bros Television, continues Kelley’s growing partnership with Apple TV. He is also the writer and executive producer of Margo’s Got Money Troubles, starring Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman, which is set to premiere on April 15. This adaptation marks Kelley’s second endeavor with Wolfe’s work; he previously served as creator and showrunner for A Man In Full, featuring Jeff Daniels and Diane Lane, that aired on Netflix.
The Bonfire of the Vanities portrays the complexities of New York City’s high society in the 1980s. Wolfe incisively depicted everything from Wall Street’s elite traders and their glamorous spouses to the racial tensions that simmered between affluent Manhattan and its less fortunate boroughs, intertwining the narratives of rising activists and the fraught social landscape.
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The story centers on Sherman McCoy, a bond trader epitomizing the “master of the universe” archetype, whose seemingly idyllic life crumbles after a detour into the Bronx leads to a tragic incident with his mistress at the wheel. This event spirals into chaos, reflecting the societal fractures Wolfe meticulously captured.
Originally published in 1987, Wolfe’s novel encapsulated a pivotal moment in New York history when financial titans like Michael Milken rose to fame alongside activists such as Al Sharpton, who capitalized on charged situations. Cases like that of Tawana Brawley, who alleged assault by a group of white men, and Michael Griffith, a young man killed while fleeing a gang, highlight the racial discord Wolfe examined, ultimately leading to Sherman McCoy facing the consequences of his actions.
Warner Bros quickly secured the book for a film adaptation directed by Brian DePalma, characterized by a star-studded cast including Tom Hanks as McCoy, Melanie Griffith as his mistress, and Bruce Willis as a dubious journalist. Despite high hopes for success, the film turned out to be one of the major flops of its time, although Julie Salamon’s behind-the-scenes narrative, The Devil’s Candy, became a critical and commercial success, offering insights into the pitfalls of filmmaking.
Adapting Wolfe’s works has proven challenging; however, adaptations like The Right Stuff found success under Phil Kaufman’s direction, while A Man in Full eventually became a series under Kelley. Other Wolfe titles, such as The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, remain in development with various attempts to bring them to the screen, including an ongoing project involving Oscar-winning producer Charles Roven.
Previously, Chuck Lorre attempted to create a limited series version of The Bonfire of the Vanities for Amazon in 2016, but the project did not come to fruition.
Executive producers for the series include Reeves and Sarah Geismer through 6th and Idaho Productions, along with Matthew Tinker through David E. Kelley Productions.
Kelley is represented by CAA and Gendler Kelly & Cunningham, while Reeves is represented by CAA and Jackoway Austen.
