AMC Greenlights Drama Pilots From 'Breaking Bad' Exec Producer, 'Nikita' Writer
AMC has greenlit two new scripted drama pilots, one from "Breaking Bad" executive producer Mark Johnson and another from "Nikita" writer Craig Silverstein, the network said Tuesday.
"Halt & Catch Fire," which will be executive-produced by Johnson and his "Breaking Bad" colleague Melissa Bernstein, is set in the early 1980s and focuses on the personal-computing boom, as seen through the eyes of a visionary, an engineer and a prodigy whose innovations will directly confront the corporate behemoths of the time. Taking place in Texas' Silicon Prairie, the project, hailing from AMC Studios, will be written by Chris Cantwell and Chris Rodgers.
"Turn," meanhile, is set a little bit earlier -- the summer of 1778, to be exact. Based on the Alexander Rose book "Washington's Spies," the pilot centers on a New York farmer who joins his childhood friends to form The Culper Ring, an unlikely group of spies who turn out to be instrumental in America's fight for independence. Also from AMC Studios, "Turn" will be written by showrunner Craig Silverstein, whose credits include "Nikita," and executive-produced by Barry Josephson ("Bones.") Both pilots will go into production next year.
Read the full press release below.
More to come...
AMC GREENLIGHTS TWO SCRIPTED DRAMA PILOTS
"Halt & Catch Fire" From AMC Studios, Created by Chris Cantwell & Chris Rodgers,
Executive Producer Mark Johnson ("Breaking Bad," Diner, Rain Man)
and Melissa Bernstein ("Breaking Bad")
"Turn" From AMC Studios, Written by Craig Silverstein ("Nikita")
Executive Producer Barry Josephson ("Bones," Enchanted)
New York – November 27, 2012 – AMC announced today pilot orders for scripted dramas "Halt & Catch Fire" and "Turn." Production on both is scheduled for 2013. This announcement comes on the heels of the network's last round of pilot orders for "Low Winter Sun" and the "Untitled LaGravenese/Tony Goldwyn project," both of which recently completed production.
"These additional pilot orders demonstrate AMC's investment in our original scripted programming," said Susie Fitzgerald, AMC's SVP of scripted development and current programming. "Both of these projects take the audience into unique worlds through compelling characters told with an original voice. We are so fortunate to be working with such exceptional talent on both of these projects."
Set in the early 1980s, "Halt & Catch Fire" dramatizes the personal computing boom through the eyes of a visionary, an engineer and a prodigy whose innovations directly confront the corporate behemoths of the time. Their personal and professional partnership will be challenged by greed and ego while charting the changing culture in Texas' Silicon Prairie. From AMC Studios, "Halt & Catch Fire" is created by Chris Cantwell and Chris Rodgers. Mark Johnson ("Breaking Bad," Diner, Rain Man) and Melissa Bernstein ("Breaking Bad") from Gran Via Productions serve as executive producers.
Based on the book "Washington's Spies," written by Alexander Rose, "Turn" is set in the summer of 1778 and tells the story of New York farmer, Abe Woodhull, who bands together with a group of childhood friends to form The Culper Ring, an unlikely group of spies who turn the tide in America's fight for independence. "Turn," also from AMC Studios, is written by showrunner Craig Silverstein ("Nikita") and executive produced by Barry Josephson ("Bones," Enchanted) from Josephson Entertainment.
AMC's EVP of original programming, production and digital content Joel Stillerman, Susie Fitzgerald, and Jason Fisher, SVP of production, will oversee the pilots' development and production.
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