The books revolve around John Rain, a half-Japanese, half-American ex-CIA agent who specializes in assassinations that mimic natural causes. Other prominent characters include Delilah, a Mossad agent who is both Rain’s lover and his greatest threat, and Dox, a sharp-tongued Texas sniper.
Previous attempts to bring John Rain to television, including a version starring Keanu Reeves, failed, but with Apple, the project now appears to be finally moving forward.
Eisler’s thrillers have been translated into 20 languages and encompass not only the nine Rain novels but also a broader “Killer Collective” universe. This universe includes characters such as Livia Lone (a sex crimes detective), Daniel Larison (a mysterious black-ops soldier), and Marvin Manus (a deaf contractor). These worlds collide when the characters must take down a secret unit targeting government whistleblowers.
The series is being produced by Pure Fiction in collaboration with See-Saw Films. Expected executive producers include Tom Winchester (Shōgun), Simon Gillis (Slow Horses), and Barry Eisler himself.
Eisler expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, praising Apple for its quality and experience with espionage stories, as evidenced by series like Slow Horses. Rennert also emphasized that this was a highly competitive deal, with many parties eyeing not only John Rain but also Eisler's other series.
The ultimate goal is to create a cohesive Killer Collective Universe, connecting all the thrillers.
