via Deadline:

Another bible-themed longform project is heading to the small screen. Lifetime is going into production with The Red Tent, a two-night miniseries adaptation of the best-selling novel by Anita Diamant published in 1997. The White Queen star Rebecca Ferguson, Minnie Driver (About A Boy) and Homeland alumna Morena Baccarin lead the cast of the four-hour mini, produced by Sony TV and executive produced by Paula Weinstein. Co-starring in the project, which begins production this month in Morocco, are Game Of Thrones‘ Iain Glen and Will Tudor as well as Debra Winger. The Red Tent tells the story of Dinah (Ferguson), the daughter of Leah and Jacob, who is only briefly referenced in the Old Testament. The miniseries begins with Dinah’s happy childhood spent inside the red tent where only the women of her tribe are allowed to gather and share the traditions and turmoil of ancient womanhood. Told through Dinah’s eyes, the mini recounts the story of her mothers Leah (Driver), Rachel (Baccarin), Zilpah and Bilhah, the four wives of Jacob (Glen), and his courtship of them. Dinah goes on to marry a prince and fall out with her murderous brother Joseph (Tudor). Winger portrays Rebecca, Jacob’s mother. “The Red Tent brings premium and popular elements to a unique and timeless story,” said Lifetime EVP Rob Sharenow. “It perfectly articulates our vision for Lifetime as the destination for epic movie events.” Lifetime recently shared with History and A&E the two-night miniseries Bonnie & Clyde. Roger Young (Law & Order) will direct The Red Tent from a script by Elizabeth Chandler (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) and Anne Meredith (Secrets of Eden).

The Red Tent mini has been in development at Lifetime since 2011. Its green light coincides with a great interest in longform TV project with biblical themes following the the blockbuster success of The Bible miniseries on Lifetime sibling History and its feature offshoot Son Of God. A Bible sequel is in the works at NBC, National Geographic Channel has mini Killing Jesus coming up, WGN America has greenlighted 10-part event series Ten Commandments, and Fox just put in development Nazareth, an event series about Jesus’ formative years.