Hallmark, CBS pact to 'Immortal'-ize Halperin

By RAY RICHMOND

Author James Halperin's second novel, "The First Immortal" --- which is due out next year --- has been optioned by Hallmark Entertainment for $125,000 and picked up by CBS as a miniseries for either 1998 or '99.

The network purchase price is a minimum $575,000 and maximum $825,000, based on the book's performance when it's published next year by Ballantine/Del Rey. Screenwriter Rospo Pallenberg has been set to pen the screen adaptation with Robert Halmi Sr. executive producing. David Picker will produce.

Deal was set by Joel Gotler of Renaissance Literary Agency, who also repped Halperin on his sale of his first novel, "the truth machine," to Plan B Entertainment and its head, Bruce Berman, for $500,000.

"The First Immortal" deals with the first human to become immortal.