USA Network says it has acquired the rights to develop a 2-hour movie starring Mark Harmon based on the series of "Prey" novels by John Sandford.

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The announcement was made Thursday by Jeff Wachtel, president of USA original programming and co-head of original content at Universal Cable Productions.

Michael Jaffe and Howard Braunstein of Jaffe-Braunstein Films will produce the movie, which is set to begin production in May.

Chris Gerolmo adapted the script from the novel, "Certain Prey." In addition to starring as the book's main character, Minneapolis Deputy Police Chief Lucas Davenport, Harmon will executive produce alongside Jaffe and Braunstein.

"Mark Harmon could read the phone book and we'd probably want to put it on the air," Wachtel said in a statement Thursday. "With Mark, Chris, Howard and Michael bringing to life the iconic character of Lucas Davenport -- that really promises to be something special."

Harmon's small-screen credits include "NCIS," "Chicago Hope," "St. Elsewhere," "Moonlighting" and "The West Wing."