Bad news for Elaine Benes: a series adaptation of Michael Ondaatje’s novel “The English Patient” is in early development at the BBC. Deadline reports Emily Ballou is writing the Miramax Television-Paramount Television Studios co-production.

“The book, which was published in 1992, follows an unrecognizably burned man — the eponymous patient, presumed to be English — his Canadian Army nurse, a Sikh British Army sapper, and a Canadian thief,” the source summarizes. “Set behind the North African and Italian campaigns of the Second World War, the book is told out of sequence and moves back and forth between the patient’s memories before his accident and the current evens at the bomb-damaged Italian monastery.”

“The English Patient” is probably best known for its 1996 film adaptation, which netted nine Oscars including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress (Juliette Binoche). Kristin Scott Thomas also starred and landed a Best Actress nod.

Ballou most recently served as supervising producer on HBO’s “Run.” Her writing credits include “Taboo,” “Humans,” and “The Slap.” Her upcoming projects include Starz’s series about Elizabeth I’s early life, “Becoming Elizabeth.” Also a poet and a novelist, Ballou has published poetry collection “The Darwin Poems” and novel “Aphelion,” among other works.