Thursday, January 19, 2017

Development News - ABC Orders Pilots for Dramas 'The Crossing' and 'Deception'; Plus 2 More Updates!

Development News - January 19, 2017

ABC's The Crossing & Deception; Freeform's Brown Girls; and NBC's For God and Country.





FREEFORM's BROWN GIRLS
  • Andrew Lees (The Originals), Omar Maskati (Better Call Saul) and Natalie Dreyfuss (Rita Rocks) have been cast on the comedy pilot starring Hina Abdullah and Punam Patel. Lees will play Brian, Rimmi's (Abdullah) ex-boyfriend, who is now her best friend. He loves all things Indian, and has a great relationship with Rimmi's mother back in India. He is thrilled when Rimmi starts hanging out with her family friend Devi (Patel). Maskati will play Shaan, an attractive but awkward financial consultant, originally from India, who has a brief flirtation with Rimmi and is embarrassed when their paths cross again. Dreyfuss will play Stella, Rimmi's fun loving and self-absorbed boss who is unimpressed when Rimmi tries to become a YouTube star and suggests she do something more "authentic."
ABC's DECEPTION
  • The broadcast network has given a pilot order to drama Deception written by Chris Fedak. He executive produces with Greg Berlanti, Martin Gero and Sarah Schechter. David Kwong will serve as a co-producer. David Nutter is expected to direct the pilot. Warner Bros. Television and Berlanti Productions produce. The project centers on superstar magician Cameron Black. When his career is ruined by scandal, he has only one place to turn to practice his art of deception, illusion and influence - the FBI. He'll become the world's first consulting illusionist, helping the government solve crimes that defy explanation, and trap criminals and spies by using deception.
ABC's THE CROSSING
  • The network has also ordered a pilot for drama The Crossing written by Dan Dworkin and Jay Beattie. They executive produce with Jason Reed. ABC Studios produces. The project revolves around refugees from a war-torn country who start showing up to seek asylum in an American town. Only the country these people are from is America and the way they are fleeing is 250 years in the future. The local sheriff with a past, a federal agent and a mother in search of her missing refugee daughter drive this allegory with a surprising conspiracy at the center.
NBC's FOR GOD AND COUNTRY
  • The broadcast network has also ordered a drama pilot today - For God and Country written by Dean Georgaris. He executive produces with Avi Nir, Peter Traugott and Rachel Kaplan. Keshet Media Group and Universal Television will produce. The project is a heart-pounding look into the complex world of the country's bravest military heroes who make personal sacrifices while executing the most challenging and dangerous missions behind enemy lines.