The author of the book that the Showtime series Masters of Sex is based on originally wanted it to be adapted to film.

Thomas Maier, the writer who documented the lives of Dr. William Masters and Virginia Johnson in the biography, recently revealed that he initially saw his book as a film adaptation. It took some convincing to get Maier to finally sell the rights to Showtime for the series starring Michael Sheen as Masters and Lizzie Caplan as Johnson. The first season which wrapped earlier this year was a critical success.

The biography, Masters of Sex: The Life and Times of William Masters and Virginia Johnson, the Couple Who Taught America How to Love, had already got some attention from the film industry and Maier was already considering two or three offers. Maier seems to have been finally convinced when he was told the nature of the show will be akin to that of AMC's hit series Mad Men.

In other related news, Allison Janney confirmed that she would be continuing her role as Margaret Scully in the second season to Digital Spy. Scully is in a sexless marriage with Provost Barton Scully, who is revealed as being homosexual in the second half of the first season. Janney suggested that the producers were trying to work out the filming schedule for the next season right now. When asked about her character arc and how things might play out for Margaret in the second season, Janney was unsure about the details.

"I don't know how many episodes, 'cos I don't know what can happen with Margaret Scully at this point," she said. "But I know it was a great storyline to get to play and I'm sure that they're going to want to tie that off somehow."

Currently, Janney stars in the sitcom, Mom, which airs on Monday at 9 p.m. on ITV2.