EXCLUSIVE: House star Hugh Laurie is returning to primetime as the lead of another drama series named after the complex doctor at its center. Chance, a hot package that includes author Kem Nunn, Room director Lenny Abrahamson, showrunner Alexandra Cunningham and producer Michael London, has landed at Hulu with a two-season, 20-episode order for a 2016 premiere. The series hails from Fox 21 TV Studios, marking the cable studio’s big entry into the SVOD space. It also represents a major move for Hulu as it is looking to establish itself as an original series player. The streaming service landed Chance by stepping up in a very competitive situation, bidding against established traditional networks, much the way Netflix nabbed House of Cards with a two-season order several years ago.
“It’s one of the rare situations when you have a burgeoning network that is saying, ‘we are going to plant our flag with this series’,” said Fox 21 TV Studios president Bert Salke, acknowledging Hulu’s Mike Hopkins and Craig Erwich for their role in making the deal. “It’s also a beginning of what hopefully will be a new business for us with new partners, making this an even more exciting time for content creators.”
Based on Nunn’s novel, Chance is described as a provocative psychological thriller that focuses on Eldon Chance (Laurie), a San Francisco-based forensic neuropsychiatrist who reluctantly gets sucked into a violent and dangerous world of mistaken identity, police corruption and mental illness. After an ill-advised decision regarding an alluring patient who may or may not be struggling with a multiple personality disorder, Chance finds himself in the crosshairs of her abusive spouse, who also happens to be a ruthless police detective. In over his head, Chance’s decent into the city’s shadowy underbelly, all while navigating the waters of a contentious divorce and the tribulations of his teenage daughter, soon spirals into an ever deepening exploration of one of mankind’s final frontiers — the shadowy, undiscovered country of the human mind.
Nunn and Cunningham (Desperate Housewives, Aquarius) wrote the TV adaption of Nunn’s novel and will executive produce, with Cunningham serving as showrunner. Abrhamson will executive produce and direct several episodes. Michael London (Milk) executive produces through his Groundswell Prods. Brian Grazer (Empire) also executive produces.
“It’s one of the rare situations when you have a burgeoning network that is saying, ‘we are going to plant our flag with this series’,” said Fox 21 TV Studios president Bert Salke, acknowledging Hulu’s Mike Hopkins and Craig Erwich for their role in making the deal. “It’s also a beginning of what hopefully will be a new business for us with new partners, making this an even more exciting time for content creators.”
Based on Nunn’s novel, Chance is described as a provocative psychological thriller that focuses on Eldon Chance (Laurie), a San Francisco-based forensic neuropsychiatrist who reluctantly gets sucked into a violent and dangerous world of mistaken identity, police corruption and mental illness. After an ill-advised decision regarding an alluring patient who may or may not be struggling with a multiple personality disorder, Chance finds himself in the crosshairs of her abusive spouse, who also happens to be a ruthless police detective. In over his head, Chance’s decent into the city’s shadowy underbelly, all while navigating the waters of a contentious divorce and the tribulations of his teenage daughter, soon spirals into an ever deepening exploration of one of mankind’s final frontiers — the shadowy, undiscovered country of the human mind.
Nunn and Cunningham (Desperate Housewives, Aquarius) wrote the TV adaption of Nunn’s novel and will executive produce, with Cunningham serving as showrunner. Abrhamson will executive produce and direct several episodes. Michael London (Milk) executive produces through his Groundswell Prods. Brian Grazer (Empire) also executive produces.
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