ABC has picked up five drama pilots, kicking off its 2015-16 season: “Of Kings and Prophets,” “Quantico,” “L.A. Crime,” “Runner” and “Mix.”
“Of Kings and Prophets” hails from “Exodus: Gods and Kings” writers Adam Cooper and Bill Collage. Described as an “epic Biblical saga of faith, ambition and betrayal,” the series will be told from three perspectives — a battle-weary king, a powerful and resentful prophet and a resourceful young shepherd. The pilot from ABC Studios will be exec produced by Iranian-American author Reza Aslan, Jason Reed and Mahyad Tousi.
Also from ABC Studios is “Quantico,” which follows a young group of FBI recruits training at the Quantico base in Virginia. As the series unfolds, jumping from present-day to flashbacks, the hidden pasts of each member of the group will be uncovered, revealing that one of the recruits is a sleeper terrorist who’s responsible for one of the greatest terror attacks on America since 9/11. The pilot is written by Josh Safran (“Gossip Girl,” “Smash”) and exec produced by the Mark Gordon Company.
“L.A. Crime,” the third drama pilot from ABC Studios, explores sex, politics and pop culture across different eras in Los Angeles history. Subsequent seasons will cover a different time and storyline. Season one is set in the “rock ‘n’ roll, coke-infused revelry of the 1980s Sunset Strip,” centering on two cops searching for a serial killing team in the vein of Bonnie and Clyde. Steven Baigelman will write the pilot; Mandeville Television will exec produce.
Popular on Variety
“Runner” comes from 20th Century Television and will be exec produced by Michael Cooney, Peter Horton, Ian Sander, Kim Moses and Jon Cowan. The series follows a woman whose perfect life is turned upside down when she learns that she’s fated to uncover the truth by following a trail of lies that lead her into the world of illegal gun trade and cartels between the U.S. and Mexico. Cowan will serve as showrunner, and Cooney will pen the pilot.
“Mix,” set in a family restaurant at a crossroads, examines the realities of modern-day families — multicultural, multigenerational and built through divorces, affairs and adoptions. The one-hour dramedy is exec produced by Jennifer Cecil, Le Train Train, Rashida Jones, Will McCormack. Cecil will also write the pilot.
