ABC has made their first pilot orders of the season, with pickups for five drama projects.
The network’s pilot orders went to Quantico, an FBI terrorism drama from Criminal Minds executive producer Mark Gordon; true-crime drama LA Crime; gun running drama Runner, which was originally set up at Fox under Kevin Reilly last year; family dramedy Mix; and biblical drama Of Kings And Prophets.
Quantico, from the Mark Gordon Company and ABC Studios, follows a group of FBI recruits, all with specific reasons for joining, who go through the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. One of the young recruits eventually turns out to be a sleeper terrorist who is responsible for worst terrorist attack on US soil since 9/11. Josh Safran penned the script and will executive produce alongside Nick Pepper and Mark Gordon.
Penned by Steven Baigelman and produced by ABC Studios, LA Crime is described as a character driven “true crime” procedural that explores sex, politics and popular culture across various noteworthy eras in Los Angeles history. The first season is set in the 1980s and will follow two LAPD detectives as they search for a Bonnie & Clyde-esque serial-killing team. The executive producers are Steven Baigelman, David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Laurie Zaks.
Originally set up at Fox last season under Kevin Reilly’s move away from pilots and towards straight-to-series orders, Runner is based on a Turkish series and is described as being “to guns what Traffic is to drugs”. It explores the traditionally masculine world of arms dealing through the unexpected lens of a woman, Lauren Marks. The adaptation is being penned by Michael Cooney, who will executive produce alongside Peter Horton, Ian Sander and Kim Moses. 20th Century Fox Television is producing.
Dramedy Mix, from Will McCormack & Rashida Jones’ Le Train Train and Warner Bros. Television, explores the realities of modern-day families — multicultural, multigenerational, built through divorces, affairs and adoptions — set against the backdrop of a revered family restaurant at a crossroads. The hour-long effort was written by Jennifer Cecil and will be executive produced by Cecil, Will McCormack and Rashida Jones.
From Adam Cooper, Bill Collage and ABC Studios, Of Kings And Prophets is an epic biblical saga of faith, ambition and betrayal as told through the eyes of a battle-weary king, a powerful and resentful prophet and a resourceful young shepherd on a collision course with destiny. Copper and Collage are set to pen the script and will executive produce alongside Jason Reed, Reza Aslan and Mahyad Tousi.
