The dramatic story of how Twitter came to be may be arriving on your small screen soon.

Lionsgate announced today that it has optioned the rights to Nick Bilton’s “Hatching Twitter: A True Story of Money, Power, Friendship and Betrayal.”Allison Shearmur will exec produce the TV project, with New York Times columnist and reporter Bilton serving as scribe and producer.

“Twitter has transformed almost every aspect of our lives from politics to business to friendship, and I can’t think of a more compelling story to adapt for television right now,” said Beggs. 

“Nick’s book has all the elements of a great drama with its complex characters, high-stakes power struggles and betrayed friendships, and we’re extremely fortunate to have Alli Shearmur onboard as executive producer.”

Nonfiction book “Hatching Twitter” was released on Nov. 5 and has become a New York Times Best Seller. Twitter, however, won’t be the first social networking site to inspire Hollywood creatives.
Aaron Sorkin adapted 2009 book “The Accidental Billionaires” into feature film “The Social Network,” which centered on the creation of Facebook.

“‘Hatching Twitter’ will go behind the scenes of a groundbreaking Silicon Valley company in a way that’s never been captured before on television,” said Shearmur. “‘The Social Network’ was a perfect film, and this series will be different, providing a longer view of the work life changes, gamesmanship and personal sacrifices made by a group of individuals who are building a company that will change the way that people communicate.”

Bilton is represented by CAA and Katinka Matson at Brockman, Inc.