Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: TNT has given a pilot order to The Last Ship, an action drama series executive produced by Michael Bay. The project, originally announced as part of TNT’s development slate in May, is based on the popular novel by William Brinkley. Written by Without A Trace creator Hank Steinberg and Steven Kane (The Closer), The Last Ship centers on the crew of a naval destroyer who, after a global catastrophe decimates the earth’s population, are forced to confront the reality of their new existence in a world where they are among the only survivors. The project hails from Bay’s Platinum Dunes banner. He is executive producing the pilot with his Platinum Dunes partners Brad Fuller and Andrew Form; Steinberg, who serves as showrunner; and Kane. “The book The Last Ship is a gripping page-turner that has all the makings of a terrific television drama, including a great premise, memorable characters, intense situations and heart-racing action,” said TNT’s head of programming Michael Wright. “We look forward to working with Michael Bay and The Last Ship‘s outstanding production team.”

Related: Michael Bay Brings Another Low-Cost Action Film To Paramount

Over the past year or so, Bay, director-producer of such blockbusters as the Transformers and Bad Boys movie franchises, has focused on expanding his brand to television through his production company. The pilot order to The Last Ship comes on the heels of the straight-to-series order Bay and Platinum Dunes received from Starz for the Treasure Island prequel Black Sails. On the unscripted side, WME-repped Bay has a series in development at A&E. Of TNT’s most recent batch of scripted pilots one, David E. Kelley’s Monday Mornings, was picked up to series, while another, Frank Darabont’s L.A. Noir, is in serious contention for a series order.

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