The Upfronts presentations continue and today it was Kevin Reilly, president of TBS and TNT and chief content officer for Turner Entertainment, who took center stage to talk about his vision for TBS and TNT.
During his presentation, Reilly announced several new series pickups as well as several new pilots for both networks.
TNT
The Alienist, a new eight-part drama series that is a fast-paced and atmospheric psychological thriller set in the fascinating and gritty world of Gilded Age New York City. After a series of haunting and gruesome murders, psychiatrist Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, newspaper reporter John Moore and police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt come together employing emerging disciplines of psychology and early crime investigation techniques to track down one of New York City’s first serial killers.
TNT also greenlit two new pilots as well, Will and Animal Kingdom. Will tells the wild story of young William Shakespeare’s arrival onto the punk rock theater scene that was 16th century London – the seductive, violent world where his raw talent faced rioting audiences, religious fanatics and raucous side-shows. It’s the hot, contemporary, dangerous version of Shakespeare’s life, played to a modern soundtrack, exposing all his recklessness, lustful temptations and brilliance. Craig Pearce (The Great Gatsby, Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge) wrote the pilot for Will, which is being executive-produced by Pearce.
Animal Kingdom follows what happens when 17-year-old Josh moves in with his wild, free-wheeling relatives in their Southern California beach town, he is pulled into their life of indulgence and excess. But after Josh discovers that it’s all being funded by criminal activities, it suddenly becomes clear to him that joining the family comes with more danger and excitement than he might be ready to handle. This family crime drama comes to TNT from John Wells Productions in association with Warner Horizon Television, with Emmy® winner John Wells.
TBS
TBS has greenlit the new series Wrecked, a single-camera comedy from up-and-coming writers Justin Shipley & Jordan Shipley and producer Jesse Hara. The network has ordered 10 episodes of the series, shich centers on a diverse group of people trying to adjust to life after being stranded on a remote island, a dangerous new world where they must face many threats – mostly brought on by themselves. No longer plugged into the rest of the world, the group struggles to navigate their makeshift society while also learning to live without such modern comforts as indoor plumbing, Wi-Fi, social media and Chipotle.
Moses Port (Community, Happy Endings) serves as executive producer and showrunner on Wrecked, which is being produced by TBS. The comedy is slated to launch in late 2015, with production scheduled to begin this summer.
TBS has also greenlit the pilot The Group, which follows a support group for people who think they have been abducted by aliens is the subject of a snarky feature piece by skeptical journalist Wyatt Jones. The more he digs into the oddballs’ claims, however, the more confused, intrigued and seduced he becomes.
The Group is produced by Conaco in association with Warner Horizon Television. Conan O’Brien, Jeff Ross (CONAN, Eagleheart), David Kissinger (Eagleheart), Dan Halsted (Sunshine State, Any Given Sunday) and director Greg Daniels (The Office, Parks and Recreation) serve as executive producers on the pilot, which was written by co-executive producer David Jenkins.