Jacob Tierney’s New Netflix Series on Alexander the Great and Aristotle is Coming, with Jason Bateman’s Aggregate Films on Board
Netflix Orders Series Adaptation of ‘Alexander’ From Jacob Tierney
Netflix has announced a straight-to-series order for Alexander, a drama exploring the formative years of Alexander the Great, created by Jacob Tierney, best known for his acclaimed contemporary gay romance Heated Rivalry. Alongside fellow executive producer Brendan Brady, Tierney will also write and direct the series, with involvement from Jason Bateman and Michael Costigan of Aggregate Films.
Alexander will adapt Annabel Lyon’s 2009 novel The Golden Mean. The story delves into the tumultuous relationship between the philosophical giant Aristotle and the young prince Alexander during a time of political turmoil in Macedonia. The narrative interweaves themes of mentorship, palace intrigue, forbidden romance, and warfare, depicting how their bond influences their destinies and reshapes history.
Tierney and Brady helm the project under the banner of Accent Aigu Entertainment, while Bateman and Costigan represent Aggregate Films.
“Jacob Tierney is one of the most exciting, in-demand creative voices working today,” said Jinny Howe, Netflix’s Head of U.S. and Canada Scripted Series. “We were immediately captivated by his vision for adapting Annabel Lyon’s acclaimed novel. This series reimagines the classic power struggle between mentor and protégé with a raw, modern energy that feels both epic and incredibly intimate. This high-stakes drama is poised to deeply resonate with our global audience.”
According to sources, Tierney crafted two scripts for Alexander on speculation. Following the success of Heated Rivalry, which established him as a prominent TV creator, Aggregate Films took the project to Netflix, where Bateman’s company holds a deal. The streaming platform promptly secured the series order.
“I fell in love with Annabel Lyon’s book The Golden Mean years ago and have been dreaming of telling this story ever since,” Tierney stated. “Brendan and I couldn’t be more excited to be partnering with Aggregate and Netflix to bring this insanely compelling world to life.”
Heated Rivalry follows rival professional hockey players Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, whose secret relationship evolves over time. The series has garnered significant viewership, achieving an average of 10.6 million viewers per episode on HBO Max in the United States and quickly received a Season 2 renewal.
Tierney, who co-created Heated Rivalry, is recognized for his work on the long-running comedy series Letterkenny, for which he won multiple Canadian Screen Awards. He is represented by CAA, Canada’s GGA, and Hansen Jacobson Teller.
Aggregate Films, involved in producing Netflix series such as Ozark and Black Rabbit, has also released films like Hit Man and Your Place or Mine. The company is represented by CAA and Lighthouse Management + Media.
Lyon’s The Golden Mean received the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize. A sequel, The Sweet Girl, centered on Aristotle’s daughter, Pythias, was published in 2012. Lyon is represented by Untitled Entertainment and Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists.
