ABC Orders Crime Drama Pilot From ‘Bad Times at the El Royale’ Director Drew Goddard

ABC has placed a pilot order for an untitled Drew Goddard crime drama based on the popular French comedy “Haut Potentiel Intellectuel (HPI).”

From ABC Signature and executive produced by Goddard (who will also write) and Sarah Esberg (“Okja,” “Moonlight,” “The OA”) of Goddard Textiles, the series logline is as follows: “A single mom with three kids and an exceptional mind helps solve an unsolvable crime when she rearranges some evidence during her shift as a cleaner for the police department. When they discover she has a knack for putting things in order because of her high intellectual potential she is brought on as a consultant to work with a by-the-book seasoned detective, and together they form an unusual and unstoppable team.”

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Pierre Laugier, Anthony Lancret and Jean Nainchrik — all of whom produced the original show — will also produce under TF1’s Newen Studios, the distribution arm of which sold the rights to ABC.

Goddard is an Oscar and Emmy-nominated writer, filmmaker and producer. In 2016, he was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for penning “The Martian,” which he also produced. He is twice Emmy-nominated for his work on NBC’s “The Good Place” and has another nomination for producing the hit drama “Lost.” He also wrote and directed “The Cabin in the Woods,” served as EP on Marvel’s “Daredevil” (which he created) and “The Defenders,” as well as penned and helmed “Bad Times at the El Royale.” The project is in accordance with his multiyear deal at 20th Century Fox TV, where he got his start as a staff writer on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Goddard is repped by UTA and Hansen Jacobson.

Deadline first reported that ABC was eyeing a pickup of the series last week. According to the outlet, the show is targeted for the 2023-24 season.

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