Nellie Andreeva

AMC has handed pilot orders to Low Winter Sun and the Untitled LaGravenese & Goldwyn Project, marking the first time the network has greenlit two scripted pilots at the same time. Low Winter Sun and the Richard LaGravenese/Tony Goldwyn drama were among six projects selected to do presentations at the network’s annual pilot script showcase, informally referred to as a “bake-off,” last month.

Low Winter Sun, a co-production between Endemol Studios and AMC Studios, is based on the 2006 two-part British mini-series written by Simon Donald and starring Mark Strong, which was produced by Endemol’s Tiger Aspect Prods. Chris Mundy (Criminal Minds) wrote the U.S. adaptation, a contemporary story of murder, deception, revenge and corruption that starts with the murder of a cop by a fellow Detroit detective.  Seemingly the perfect crime, in reality the murder activates forces that will forever alter that detective’s life and pull him into the heart of the Detroit underworld. Mundy will serve as executive producer/showrunner on the project, repped by CAA. Jeremy Gold, head of creative affairs for Endemol Studios, oversees the project with Greg Brenman, head of drama for Tiger Aspect. This is Endemol’s second AMC pilot following Hell On Wheel, which came out of the “bake-off” two years ago and went on to become a series that has been renewed for a second season.

The untitled LaGravenese & Goldwyn Project is a legal thriller centered on a District Attorney who uncovers new evidence that prompts the reinvestigation of a sensational murder case. It explores personal morality and how people struggle with the shades of grey found in the absence of a simple, ordered moral universe. LaGravenese wrote the script and will executive produce the pilot with Goldwyn who will direct. Andrew Sugarman will serve as a co-executive producer. “Both of these shows represent an opportunity to continue what our existing scripted series have established so well – a commitment to great writing, and shows that tackle complex characters in a genuine and authentic way,” said Joel Stillerman, AMC’s EVP of original programming, production and digital content. “Richard and Tony have collaborated on an explosive piece of storytelling that explores race and capital punishment in a way that transcends the legal genre; and Chris has captured the strength and intensity of the source material to create a muscular, Detroit-based character piece that explores the themes of such diverse stories as Crime and Punishment and Heat.”

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