Dramas The Exorcist, Lethal Weapon, A.P.B. and Pitch; and two comedies Making History and The Mick have all been given series orders at Fox.
The Exorcist and Lethal Weapon are both based on well known properties, William Blattys book and the blockbuster action franchise, respectively. A.P.B. exceeded expectations, coming in strong under the direction of helmer Len Wiseman and new showrunner Matt Nix, who took over the project mid-shoot and rewrote the pilot script on the fly. Dan Fogelmans female baseball pitcher drama Pitch had been well received while the Phil Lord-Chris Miller-produced Making History was the first pilot ordered by Fox after the network brass loved the script. Chernin brothers fish-out-of-water The Mick also had been solid throughout, emerging as the second lock on the comedy side alongside Making History.
The Exorcist, written by Jeremy Slater and directed by Rupert Wyatt; Lethal Weapon, written by Matt Miller and directed by McG; A.P.B. and Pitch join previously picked up new Fox dramas 24: Legacy and Star.
That makes it a total of six new drama series, on par with last season, and two new comedies, half the number picked up last May.
This marks the third consecutive Fox pilot directed by Wiseman to go to series, joining Sleepy Hollow and Lucifer.
Lethal Weapon is from Warner Bros. TV, all other shows, including the two previously ordered ones, are from 20th TV. The Exorcist, which was first put together by Morgan Creek two and a half years ago, was picked up by Fox as a spec in January and was laid off at 20th TV.
Here is information on the newly picked up Fox series:
COMEDIES:
MAKING HISTORY (single camera)
STUDIO: 20th Century Fox TV
TEAM: Julius Sharpe (w, ep), Phil Lord (ep), Chris Miller (ep), Seth Cohen (ep), Jared Hess (d)
LOGLINE: 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. Two shows in one, its both a rollicking historical adventure, and a contemporary comedy about love, friendship and trying to fit in to an increasingly complex and impersonal world.
CAST: Adam Pally, Leighton Meester, Yassir Lester
THE MICK (single camera)
STUDIO: 20th Century Fox TV/3 Arts
TEAM: John Chernin (w, ep), Dave Chernin (d, ep), Randall Einhorn (d, ep), Oly Obst (ep), Nicholas Frenkel (ep)
LOGLINE: Mackenzie The Mick Murphy (Kaitlin Olson) is 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 sisters three rich, entitled, high-maintenance children.
CAST: Kaitlin Olson, Sofia Black DElia, Carla Jimenez, Thomas Barbusca, Jack Stanton, Susan Park
DRAMAS:
A.P.B.
STUDIO: 20th Century Fox TV
TEAM: Matt Nix (w, ep), Len Wiseman (d, ep), Dennis Kim (ep), Todd Hoffman (ep), Robert Friedman (ep)
LOGLINE: Inspired by true events, APB is about the Chicago Police Department spiraling out of control amid sky-high crime, officer-involved shootings, cover-ups and corruption. After witnessing a violent crime first-hand, genius tech billionaire Gideon Reeves (Justin Kirk), decides to do something about it, putting up millions of dollars of his own money to take over the troubled 13th Precinct and reboot it as a private police force: better, faster and smarter than anything seen before. With cutting-edge technology and revolutionary new ideas, Gideon plans to rethink everything about the way cops fight crime.
CAST: Justin Kirk, Natalie Martinez, Caitlin Stasey, Taylor Handley, Eric Winter, Ernie Hudson, Tamberla Perry
THE EXORCIST
STUDIO: 20th Century Fox TV/Morgan Creek Productions
TEAM: Jeremy Slater (w, ep), James Robinson (ep), David Robinson (ep), Barbara Wall (ep), Rolin Jones (ep), Rupert Wyatt (d)
LOGLINE: More than four decades after the Academy Award-nominated film solidified itself as the greatest horror movie ever made, The Exorcist returns in series format as a propulsive psychological thriller following two very different priests tackling one familys case of horrifying demonic possession.
CAST: Alfonso Herrera, Ben Daniels, Geena Davis, Brianne Howey, Hannah Kasulka, Kurt Egyiawan
LETHAL WEAPON
STUDIO: Warner Bros TV/Lin Pictures/Good Session Productions
TEAM: Matt Miller (w, ep), Dan Lin (ep), McG (d, ep), Jennifer Gwartz (ep)
LOGLINE: Lethal Weapon rides along with classic cop duo Martin Riggs (Clayne Crawford) and Roger Murtaugh (Damon Wayans, Sr.) as they work a crime-ridden beat in modern-day Los Angeles. Based on the hit movie franchise.
CAST: Clayne Crawford, Damon Wayans Sr., Keesha Sharp, Jordana Brewster, Kevin Rahm
PITCH
STUDIO: 20th Century Fox TV
TEAM: Dan Fogelman (w, ep), Rick Singer (w, ep), Tony Bill (ep), Helen Bartlett (ep), Paris Barclay (d, ep)
LOGLINE: The emotional story of young pitcher Ginny Baker (Kylie Bunbury), a beautiful, tough and incredibly gifted athlete who instantly becomes the most famous person in the country when shes called up by the San Diego Padres, making her the first woman to play Major League Baseball.
CAST: Kylie Bunbury, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mo McRae, Meagan Holder, Tim Jo, Ali Larter, Dan Lauria, Mark Consuelos
