AceShowbiz -

Jason Statham is crossing over to the small screen. The "Transporter" star will executive produce and star on a new TV drama titled "Viva La Madness" from Gaumont International Television.

Described as an action thriller, the series is based on J.J. Connolly's book of the same name. Connolly also wrote the book's prequel titled "Layer Cake" which was adapted into a 2004 movie starring Daniel Craig.

Per Variety, "Viva La Madness" follows an anonymous hero who is stranded in the Caribbean itching for the criminal life he left behind - even though he's still a wanted man back home. Soon he joins forces with two robust London gangsters: the menacing Sonny King and his paranoid partner Roy "Twitchy" Burns.

" 'Viva La Madness', with its riveting characters and twisting storyline, is a volatile cocktail of action and comedy that only J.J. Connolly can create," Gaumont CEO Katie O'Connell Marsh said. "Jason Statham, known for his roles in the 'Transporter' trilogy, 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels', 'Snatch', 'The Bank Job', as well as the recent 'Furious 7' and 'Spy', brings such strength and credibility to his characters but also has an effortless shade of vulnerability that gives him so much dimension on screen."

The project was originally developed as a feature film but they eventually decided to turn it into an hour-long series written by Connolly. "The way J.J. writes is so on the ball and authentic, it's hard to let any of it go. Trying to lose characters or shave down scenes every other page didn't work, we wanted it all. The best place was a 10 hour-plus show that lets you fully disappear into Connolly's world," Statham explained.

The actor will executive produce the series along with Connolly, and Steven Chasman. " 'Viva La Madness' is filled with J.J. Connolly's trademark dark humor, razor-sharp dialogue, and quick-fire violence," Chasman gushed.

No network has picked up the series.