Nellie Andreeva

NBC is saddling up for The Crossing, picking up to pilot a period Western from Peter Horton. Additionally, the network has officially greenlit its adaptation of the British classic Prime Suspect, which had been rolled over from last season.

The Crossing (formerly Reconstruction) was originally developed at FX where it was set up in 2009. The drama, written by St. Elsewhere co-creator Josh Brand, is set in a Missouri town during the post-Civil War Reconstruction era and centers on Jason, a Civil War soldier who crosses the country and settles into a complicated town where he is welcomed as its savior — whether he likes it or not. Brand and Horton are exec producing, with Horton set to direct. Also expected to executive produce is Aaron Kaplan, who has been attached to the project from the very beginning. Back in 2009, Horton told me he Brand came up with the idea for Reconstruction while discussing today’s realities: the economic crisis and the situation in the Middle East, including war-ravaged Iraq. “We thought a good way to tell the story would be through the allegory of the Western,” Horton said. “How does one heal after (a war)? How do you find your humanity again?” This is the second period drama pilot ordered by NBC  this season, along with the 1960s Playboy.

Prime Suspect, from UMS and ITV Studio, centers on an iconoclastic female detective who has to make her bones in a tough New York precinct that is dominated by men. The pilot was originally picked up last season but was pushed after difficulties casting the lead. The adaptation was also given a revamp with a new producing team, Peter Berg and Sarah Aubrey of Film 44, and new writer, Alexandra Cunningham, coming on board. The three are executive producing the pilot, with Berg also set to direct. The Crossing and Prime Suspect join an untitled comedy pilot from Kari Lizer, which was picked up earlier today as NBC is wrapping its orders.

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