Hollywood is finding mixed success turning television shows into movies, but how exactly does it work the other way around?

ABC is going to test the waters with plans to adapt Marta Kauffman's "The Time Traveler's Wife" to the smaller screen, hoping it will turn into success stories of other big screen-turned-TV projects such as "M*A*S*H" and "Friday Night Lights."

But it wasn't the movie that really piqued ABC's interest. In fact, they apparently were interested in the show long before Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams took on Kauffman's characters, according to TheWrap.com.

Industry insiders said ABC was talking to Kauffman about "Time Traveler's Wife" for several years. The $20 million opening of the film certainly didn't hurt when ABC was trying to figure out exactly what it wanted to do with the property, they said.

Both projects are based on the 2003 debut novel of Audrey Niffenegger, and has been classified as both science-fiction and fantasy. The story centers on a couple Henry DeTamble and Clare Abshire who have to deal with the fact that Henry has a genetic disorder that causes him to shift through time.

The film rights were picked up by Plan B Entertainment, the production company owned by Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt, before the book was even published, and produced through New Line Cinema. It's not clear if Plan B will be part of the television project, which is being spearheaded by Warner Bros. Television, which shares common ownership with New Line.