Universal has optioned the rights to Tamer Elnoury and Kevin Maurer’s book American Radical: Inside the World of an Undercover Muslim FBI Agent which Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail will direct and produce and his Emmy-winning star Rami Malek will headline. The project is in development and a search for a writer underway. Mr. Robot is produced by Uni’s sister cable network USA Networks.

EVP of Production MarkSourian and Creative Executive LexiBarta will oversee American Radical for Universal.

Next up for Malek is the remake of Papillon on Aug. 24 which Bleecker Street is releasing, as well as Nov. 2’s Bohemian Rhapsody in which he plays Freddie Mercury. At CinemaCon, Malek shared with exhibitors how he passionately prepared for the part of Mercury.

Esmail is currently busy on the Universal Cable Productions/Amazon half-hour drama series Homecoming starring Julia Roberts,Bobby Cannavale, Stephan James, Alex Karpovsky and Shea Whigham. Esmail is directing and executive producing the show which Amazon gave a two season pick-up to. Following Homecoming, Esmail will return to Mr. Robot season 4.