In a competitive situation, with all of the Big 4 networks interested, Training Day, a series adaptation of Antoine Fuqua’s acclaimed 2001 feature, has landed at CBS with a pilot production commitment. The hot project, which was taken out last week, hails from Fuqua, writer Will Beall, Warner Bros. TV and studio-based Jerry Bruckheimer Television.
It was Fuqua’s idea to do the neo-noir crime thriller, which starred Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke, as a TV series. He approached WBTV and also brought on board studio-based Jerry Bruckheimer TV and Beall. Fuqua is executive producing and is set to direct the pilot, written by Beall, who has feature (Gangster Squad), television (Castle) and police background as a former LAPD detective.
The Warner Bros. Pictures/Village Roadshow Pictures feature, written by David Ayer, centered on a rookie LAPD cop (Hawke) who goes on a day-long training course with a rogue detective from narcotics (Washington).
I hear that the series, from WBTV, Fuqua Films and Jerry Bruckheimer TV, would focus on the relationship between the two cops. It would be taking place 15 years after the movie, set in the LAPD of 2015. I also hear that the premise may get a twist, with the rookie cop being black and the corrupt older cop being white.
Buddy cop show has been high on CBS’ genre wish list. The network launched Battle Creek last season and has the upcoming Rush Hour, also a series adaptation of a popular movie title from WBTV. I hear Training Day is not supposed to clash withRush Hour as the two shows have very different tones, an hourlong comedy (Rush Hour) and a gritty drama (Training Day).
Fuqua and Beall executive produce Training Day with Jerry Bruckheimer TV’s Jerry Bruckheimer and Jonathan Littman. The company’s KristieAnne Reed is co-executive producing.
The 2001 movie was a critical and commercial hit, earning Oscar nominations for both Washington and Hawke, and a win for Washington.
Fuqua’s latest movie, Southpaw, just opened, and he is directing The Magnificent Seven, which co-stars Washington and Hawke. Beall is wrapping up writing two feature projects based on famous characters, Robin Hill and The Legend Of Conan.Fuqua, Beall and Jerry Bruckheimer TV are repped by CAA.
