Max orders ‘ER’-style medical drama from John Wells and Noah Wyle

Liam Mathews
·3 min read
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The streaming services are starting to make medical dramas, which until now have been the exclusive terrain of broadcast networks, and Max just one-upped its competitors.

On Tuesday, Max announced a 15-episode, straight-to-series order for “The Pitt,” a medical drama that will reunite “ER” executive producer John Wells and star Noah Wyle. 

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Wyle will star and serve as executive producer. Wyle is a five-time Emmy nominee for his performance as charismatic doctor John Carter on the iconic medical procedural “ER.” He is also known for the fantasy series “The Librarians” and the sci-fi series “Falling Skies.” 

“NCIS: Los Angeles” showrunner and Emmy-nominated “ER” writer and producer R. Scott Gemmill will serve as showrunner. 

The series hails from John Wells Productions and Warner Bros. Television.

“The Pitt” is described as a realistic examination of the challenges facing healthcare workers in today’s America as seen through the lens of the frontline heroes working in a modern-day hospital in Pittsburgh.

“We are grateful to Warner Bros. Television and Max for giving us this opportunity to return to the world of urban medicine,”  In a joint statement, Wells, Wyle, and Gemmill said that the world of medicine has only gotten more complex and challenging since “ER” ended in 2009. “We’re thrilled to be able to return to this world with the support of our partners and are looking forward to pushing the boundaries of dramatic realism and medical accuracy in following the lives of these heroic men and women,” they said. So “The Pitt” is not a sequel to “ER,” but it will be the same type of show. 

“ER” was a ratings and awards juggernaut in its time, winning 23 Emmys throughout its 15-season run, including Best Drama in 1996, and was TV’s most-watched show in Seasons 2, 3, and 5. It launched the careers of stars including George Clooney, Julianna Margulies, and Wyle.   

Because broadcast medical dramas like “Grey’s Anatomy” perform so well on streaming, and especially after the success of “Suits” on streaming last year, streaming services are increasingly moving toward making shows in a more traditional television style. “The Pitt’s” 15-episode order, which is very large for a streaming drama, is evidence of this trend, as is the choice to hire broadcast TV veterans like Wyle and Gemmill. 

Last month, Netflix announced “Pulse,” a Miami-set medical procedural from Zoe Robyn and Carlton Cuse that will star Justina Machado, Colin Woodall, and Willa Fitzgerald.

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