Downton Abbey makers to screen Magnum Photos TV series October 16, 2014

© Magnum Collection / Magnum Photos

The series – to be called Magnum – is set to focus on the agency’s founders: Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson, George Rodger and David ‘Chim’ Seymour.

‘Magnum is an extraordinary and unique organisation, with a powerful history and an amazing story to tell,’ said Gareth Neame, managing director of producer, Carnival Films.

‘We can get right inside the key events of the second half of the 20th century through the lives and lenses of these photographers in a bold and completely original way.’

Magnum Photos’ executive director David Kogan said: ‘At Magnum we have spent 67 years telling stories of the world through our photographers and their work.

‘We are delighted to be working with Carnival to tell the story of our founding photographers and how it all began.’

The actors playing the roles have yet to be chosen.

A spokesman for Magnum’s UK office told Amateur Photographer that the project is still in the ‘very early stages’.

He said it is due to air in 2017 but the agency does not yet have confirmation on which TV channels it will be screened.

A statement posted on the Magnum Photos website earlier this week adds: ‘With cameras in hand and private lives often in turmoil, Magnum’s photographers sacrificed everything to capture history through the lens.

‘Magnum will tell of the human stories of love, honour, laughter, betrayal and heartbreak that existed at the agency’s Paris HQ, while capturing the action and danger the photographers experienced travelling the world’s hotspots in the second half of the 20th century.’