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EXCLUSIVE: In his foray into American television, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón has teamed with J.J. Abrams for a high-concept drama, which just landed at NBC with a pilot production commitment. Cuarón is set to direct the pilot, which he will co-write with Mark Friedman (Home Of the Brave). It is about a girl in possession of a great gift/powers — which will come into their own in seven years — and the man who is sprung from prison to protect her from those trying to hunt her down .
Warner Bros. TV and Abrams’ studio-based Bad Robot are producing the untitled project, with Abrams, Cuarón, Friedman and Bryan Burk executive producing and Kathy Lingg co-executive producing. The project reunites Friedman with Warner Bros. TV where he created the ABC drama series The Forgotten, co-produced by another top WBTV pod, Jerry Bruckheimer TV. Mexican-born Cuarón received Oscar nominations for writing Y Tu Mamá También and Children of Men, both of which he also directed. He also helmed Harry Potter and the Prisoner Of Azkaban.
This marks the second sale and second pilot production commitment for Bad Robot this season, on the heels of the company re-upping with WBTV for three more years. At Fox, Bad Robot has a robot-cop drama written by Fringe showrunner J.H. Wyman. The company has three series on the air, departing critical darling Fringe, hot sophomore Person of Interest, and new NBC drama Revolution, which premiered to big ratings on Monday. Cuarón and Friedman are with UTA, Abrams recently signed with CAA.
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Stop buying awful shit just because it’s JJ. Wow.
What makes you think it’s awful?
You’re just being a troll, right? It’s Alfonso Cuaron.
Alfonso Cuarón is amazing – a smart buy for NBC – but I agree enough already with having JJ involved anymore he means nothing to audiences and honestly he’s not that talented.
Ture. However, I still have quite a bit of JJ goodwill left over because of Fringe, so I’m definitely checking this out. He’s taking on a lot of new projects, maybe one of them will actually be good.
I’d agree if Cuaron wasn’t a part of this. He’s an incredible writer/director and I’m really excited to see what he’d do. Shame it’s on NBC though.
NBC has nowhere to go but up and CUARON is amazing. Seems like a smart move by NBC quite frankly. Take a chance on a true Auteur. Don’t note him to death in development. Could be a hit.
Um, isn’t this sorta the plot of the Powers of Matthew Star from the 1980s? LOL
It’s a cross between “Matilda” and “The Professional,” right?
Frankly, I could care less about J.J. Abrams, though Alfonso Cuarón has the golden touch, so it all balances out.
Just when you think NBC has run out of terrible ideas for new shows…they buy this. Obviously, executives at NBC are so nervous about keeping their jobs..they are now giving deals for worn out ideas, but with big name producers involved.
The tension at NBC must be truly palpable.
Since when have networks not bought worn out ideas? That seems to be all they do. NBC is no worse than the rest and none is less original than CBS.
JJ isn’t infallible, to be sure, but he is at least trying to do entertaining shows with a tone that I love. And Cuaron is an amazing director. His Harry Potter film “righted” the course of the franchise from Columbus blah. Sure, we can all be cynical and shit on news because it’s NBC or we’re jealous, but I’d rather be cautiously optimistic and even a little bit excited.
It will be fine as long as he doesn’t WRITE it
I’d watch anything Alfonso made
I would love to see more from Bad Robot’s feature side.
Very familiar premise, a mix of FIRESTARTER and MERCURY RISING.
Nice to see people have the ability to tell whether a TV series is good or not just from a one sentence description.
Anyway, while I enjoy JJ’s work, I’m interested to see what Cuaron can bring to TV. He’s definitely a creative mind.
I’m sorry to say folks, Curaon is gonna direct one ep and never read or direct another. He’ll just get a check every week and tie his name to this sinking ship.
No doubt. You think Cuaron is going to ever be in the room where all the hard work is done. Nope.
Same for JJ.
Pass. Gas.
Wait, what? Does this premise actually mean we have to wait seven years for something to happen? Evn Lost wasn’t that infuriating.
OK, JJ, but let’s leave out two things from this – time travel and lens flares. OK?
Sounds promising, just like the robot cop drama.
Premise sounds ok. I just hope the girl character is of high school age and not a little kid.
Hey as long as Charlie Andrews doesn’t get his hands on this it should be fine.
not original..bring back westerns
I was a massive LOST fan..and loved the rebooted Star Trek! But Revolution…i lasted 20 minutes..all the power in the world has gone but all the girls have cute tops and skinny jeans and the guys have pec hugging Tees..REALLY?? Good grief! Watch The Walking Dead..everyone is dirty and bedraggled..and there are ZOMBIES! And there is a genuine sense of peril, looming dread and suspense!