US network ABC has boarded a forthcoming ITV1 drama about the Titanic, written by Gosford Park Oscar winner Julian Fellowes.

The patchwork of international broadcasters have helped finance Titanic, which will be edited into 4 x 60-minute and 2 x 90-minute versions.

Alongside ABC, Australia’s Channel Seven will join existing partners ITV1, CanWest Global (Canada) and TV3 (Ireland) on the project.

Co-produced by Deep Indigo, ITV Studios and Lookout Point, it will air near the 100th anniversary of the tragedy.

Nigel Stafford-Clark, who helped make Bleak House, Warriors and The Way We Live Now, will produce the drama. It has been written by Fellowes, who recently wrote ITV1’s hit period drama Downton Abbey.

“The fantastic pedigree of the production talent behind this major series has generated huge interest from our global broadcast clients and we are very pleased to announce these new partners today,” said Maria Kyriacou, managing director ITVS GE.

Quinn Taylor, ABC’s senior vice president, movies, miniseries and acquisitions, added: “The tragic tale of the Titanic has retained a powerful hold on people around the world for almost 100 years, and this new miniseries will offer a compelling take on this epic, tragic story.

This story was originally published on Broadcastnow.co.uk.