Fox is the first broadcast network to jump into the 2016-2017 television season.
Variety has learned that comedies “Making History” and “The Mick” have landed series orders, along with dramas “APB,” “Lethal Weapon,” “The Exorcist” and “Pitch.”
As Variety reported yesterday, Fox was looking to pick up three to five dramas and two to three comedies with all of the official series listed an in contention in our report. “Making History” has been an early favorite at Fox all along, and “The Mick” was a comedy frontrunner in the past few weeks. On the drama side, “Lethal Weapon,” “The Exorcist” and “Pitch” also received big buzz early on. “APB” become a late favorite after changes were implemented behind the scenes.
The six new series join the previously ordered “24” spinoff “24: Legacy,” Lee Daniels’ drama “Star,” the “Prison Break” reboot, the event series “Shots Fired” and Jason Sudeikis’ hybrid comedy “Son of Zorn.”
“APB” is police drama is inspired by true events. Set at the Chicago Police Department spiraling out of control amid sky-high crime, officer-involved shootings, cover-ups and corruption take place. After witnessing a violent crime first-hand, a genius tech billionaire, played by Justin Kirk, decides to do something about it, putting up millions of dollars of his own money to take over the troubled 13thPrecinct and reboot it as a private police force. With cutting-edge technology and revolutionary new ideas, Gideon plans to rethink everything about the way cops fight crime.
Kirk stars alongside Natalie Martinez, Eric Winter, Ernie Hudson, Taylor Handley, Tamberla Perry and Caitlin Stasey. Len Wiseman directed the pilot, which was re-worked after David Slack exited the project with Matt Nix coming in to re-write. Wiseman and Nix are exec producers with Dennis Kim, Todd Hoffman and Robert Friedman. 20th Century Fox TV is the studio.
“The Exorcist” is a re-imagination of the classic horror film. The psychological thriller is set more than four decades after the movie, and returns in series format as a propulsive psychological thriller following two very different priests tackling one family’s case of horrifying demonic possession.
Geena Davis, Alfonso Herrera, Ben Daniels, Brianne Howey and Hannah Kasulka star in the drama from 20th Century Fox TV and Morgan Creek Productions. Jeremy Slater penned the scripted and is an exec producer with Rolin Jones, James Robinson, Barbara Wall, David Robinson and Rupert Wyatt who directed the pilot.
“Lethal Weapon” is based on the hit movie franchise that starred Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. In the modern-day series, Clayne Crawford plays Martin Riggs and Damon Wayans Sr. plays Roger Murtaugh.
The series hails from writer Matt Miller who exec producers with Dan Lin, Jennifer Gwartz and McG who directed the pilot. Warner Bros. Television, Good Session Productions and Lin Pictures are behind the project, which also stars Jordana Brewster, Kevin Rahm and Keesha Sharp.
“Pitch” is a female-led baseball drama that tells the emotional story of young pitcher Ginny Baker (played by breakout Kylie Bunbury), a beautiful, tough and incredibly gifted athlete who instantly becomes the most famous person in the country when she’s called up by the San Diego Padres, making her the first woman to play Major League Baseball. Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Ali Larter, Mark Consuelos, Dan Lauria, Michael Beach, Bob Balaban, Mo McRae, Meagan Holder and Tim Jo.
Dan Fogelman and Rick Singer are writers on the 20th Century Fox TV series and will exec produce with Tony Bill, Helen Bartlett, Jess Rosenthal, Kevin Falls and Paris Barclay who directed the pilot.
“Making History” is a single-cam comedy from writer Julius “Goldie” Sharpe and exec producers Phil Lord, Chris Miller and Seth Cohen. The series chronicles three friends from two different centuries as they try to balance the thrill of time travel with the mundane concerns of their present-day lives. Described as two shows in one, it’s both a rollicking historical adventure and a contemporary comedy about love, friendship and trying to fit in to an increasingly complex and impersonal world.
Adam Pally, Leighton Meester and Yassir Lester star. Sharpe is also serve as an exec producer. 20th Century Fox TV is the studio.
“The Mick,” starring Kaitlin Olson, revolves around a brash, blue collar, two-bit hustler who has spent her entire life gaming the system and shirking any semblance of responsibility. But when her estranged sister and billionaire brother-in-law flee the country to escape federal charges, the opulent, care-free life Mickey has always envied is finally within reach… But there is one minor catch: she must assume custody of her sister’s three rich, entitled, high-maintenance children.
The single-cam comedy comes from writing duo John Chernin and Dave Chernin who will exec produce with Nick Frenkel, Oly Obst and director Randall Einhorn. Olson stars along with Sofia Black-D’Elia, Thomas Barbusca, Jack Stanton, Carla Jimenez and Susan Park. 20th Century Fox TV is the studio.
Source: Variety
