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UPDATED: ABC has handed a script commitment with significant penalty to Chosen, a drama from Big Fish writer John August and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles developer/executive producer Josh Friedman. Described as a unique tale of family struggle, teen romance and California evil, it explores how a family’s life is upended when their 15-year-old daughter is identified as the reincarnated prophet of a mysterious South American religion. But is she their messiah, or a pawn in a darker conspiracy? August is writing and will executive produce with Friedman. 20th Century Fox TV, where Friedman is under a three-year overall deal, produces. Chosen joins another premium script deal Friedman recently inked at NBC for an untitled soap set in in world of human-looking robots, which Friedman is writing/executive producing, with Homeland‘s Howard Gordon supervising/executive producing. Frequent Tim Burton collaborator August, who recently co-wrote Dark Shadows, the upcoming Frankenweenie and a musical version of Big Fish, is with UTA, which also reps Friedman.
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i nominate this as the most random, pointless, and stupid idea for a series. ever? at least in a long, long time. i am not in the industry, but i cannot believe this will ever get produced.e
Why so salty? This show sounds great.
If by “great” you mean “crappy”, I agree.
If by “agree” you mean “disagree”, I agree.
I’m with Cristal. The pitch makes me wanna watch.
Thank you for not being in the industry ! And your enlightening comment.
They need to change the title. Mark Millar, creator of Kick Ass, already has a comic called Chosen. It follows a kid from the midwest, who is the reincarnation of Jesus.
The fact that you had to tell us that proves that they don’t need to change the title.
They do not need to change the title. It’s a noun naming a project in another medium. You can’t trademark nouns unless it’s for the same exact type of product.
I do LOVE Millar’s comic, though. But that’s a better idea for a feature.
What sort of “pro” gets away with green-lighting crap like this and somehow remains employed? This plot sounds less plausible than a post-bender Hunter Thompson yarn (may he rest in Peace).
I vote “pawn in darker conspiracy!”
This sounds like a movie Anchor Bay would pick up.
I thought TV drama was supposed to be our savior, and yet, I find myself turning back to films for escapism.
GO JOSH!!!!!
Once again, network execs in fear of their jobs pay huge sums to big name writers regardless of whether the idea is any good for their network. What a waste.
This idea could work on a couple of cable channels, but it will go down as yet another huge waste of money by ignorant network executives.
Don’t worry… these folks get hung out to dry along with the big name writers when they don’t deliver. I remember when August was a Big Fish. Now he’s selling to ABC.
The Asset was a joke. Locke and Key wasn’t much better.
Premise sounds interesting. A spiritual successor to “American Gothic” perhaps?
August and Friedman are talented folks, so here’s hoping…
Amusingly, on John August’s own website, he discusses the sale, but says they’re keeping the logline “under wraps.”
Oh, silly, sweet, naive John…
Yes, ANCHOR BAY for sure. Don’t they pick up what washes ashore?
well, the good news is Josh Friedman… bad news is John August – so based on this equation the show might be half good.
That’s right California is evil especially Hollywood and Beverly Hills those places are extremely evil. She is obviously a pawn in a darker conspiracy but what kind of conspiracy? I will be sure to watch every episode of this unfortunately it will never go to series so we’ll never know how it ends or how it starts. This pilot will never even air.
Are you guys nuts. This sounds so cool!
Count me as another person who thinks this sounds like one of the more interesting projects I’ve heard about this season. It will all depend on execution, of course, but I’m intrigued, and I think we’re seeing a general trend toward more high concept pieces with a slightly more family bent.
It’s on ABC…how do you think it will be executed?
Friedman needs to move over to cable or get out. The stuff he writes deserves more than a cliff-hanger act out every 7 minutes.
The “trend” is called chasing HUNGER GAMES at 200 miles per hour to land a TV spinoff as successful as TRUE BLOOD or THE VAMPIRE DIARIES was to TWILIGHT.
I don’t understand how they would keep this idea fresh and interesting over the years
For this kind of ready-made cult show, there are only a few options (assuming it’s ever produced/airs)
1) It will be cancelled quickly, but becomes a cult favorite a la “Firefly”, driven by obsessed fans who bemoan its quick death
2) It will grow in popularity until it stays long past its welcome and becomes a shell of its former self, like “X Files”
3) It will be great for a few years before falling completely on its face, like “Lost”
Guess that’s why they hire them to write it instead of you.
Actually, they did hire me…
1) Are you “Jeff?” If not, the comment wasn’t directed to you and doesn’t apply to you.
2) Are you John August? Are you Josh Friedman? If not, then your comment is incorrect.
Exactly. So the show is going to play Is she or isn’t she? for five whole seasons?
A drama based on a question might work for a season or two, but ultimately fizzles out. Ahem, AWAKE much?
Would love if Deadline could start running the names of studio/network executives on these projects.. so we know who to avoid.
ABC should pick up Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles for Season 3.
Give it up. The show sucked.