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Antivirus guru John McAfee sells rights for movie about his life

Currently fighting deportation efforts in Guatemala, the antivirus-software pioneer sells life-story rights to a Montreal-based TV production company.

Steven Musil Night Editor / News
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Steven Musil
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John McAfee during a CNN interview before his capture last week. CNN/screenshot by CNET

It's still a mystery where John McAfee will eventually land, but his life story is destined for the small screen.

Currently in custody in Guatemala and fighting deportation efforts that could return him to Belize to face questions about a murder, the antivirus-software pioneer has signed a deal that gives the rights to his life story to a Montreal-based TV producer.

TV production company Impact Future Media said today it has secured the exclusive intellectual property rights to the former fugitive's story, a project tentatively titled "Running in the Background: The True Story of John McAfee."

"Mr. McAfee has entrusted us with his life story, and that is a responsibility we take very seriously," François Garcia, CEO and co-founder of Impact Future Media, said in a statement. "We will work tirelessly to make certain that his story is shared with the proper industry partners."

McAfee, 67, offered a "most heartfelt thank you" to Impact Future Media for taking on the project.

"Their dedication to the truth is very uncommon in the world we live in today," McAfee said in the company's press release. "I am now, and will always be grateful to their organizations."

McAfee was arrested Wednesday by Guatemalan police after crossing into the country early last week to seek asylum, a request that has since been denied. McAfee had been on the run from police in neighboring Belize since November 12, when his neighbor Gregory Faull, a contractor and restaurant owner, was discovered with a bullet in his head.

McAfee, who claims he is being wrongfully persecuted by officials in Belize, has filed a trio of appeals with the Guatemalan government to avoid deportation and has also said he would like to return to the United States.

"My goal is to get back to America as soon as possible," McAfee told Reuters. "I wish I could just pack my bags and go to Miami."