The Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard is set to become the subject of a feature film.

The Pollard espionage scandal of the 1980s has remained a source of contention between the United States and Israel for decades. He is believed to be the only American ever to receive a life sentence for passing classified information to an ally of the US.

The film will be based on Martin Blank’s stage play The Law of Return, a thriller that details Pollard’s career in the US Navy and explores his motivations for becoming a spy. Blank will write the film adaptation of his play. No details of director or casting have yet been announced.

In 1987 Pollard pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison for passing top-secret information to the Israeli government. The law stipulated he be eligible for parole 30 years after his 1985 arrest. On Tuesday, lawyers for the former US Navy intelligence analyst announced he would be released on 20 November. Israel granted Pollard citizenship in 1995 and has since consistently lobbied for his release. His parole may go some way to ease tensions between the US and Israel, which have grown over the Iran nuclear agreement.

US national security spokesman Alistair Baskey has stated that Pollard’s release was decided “according to standard procedures” and “was in no way linked to foreign policy considerations”.