Drama Backstrom Starring Rainn Wilson Gets 13-Episode Series Order At Fox
By NELLIE ANDREEVA
After a two-and-and-a-half year journey at different networks with different writers, the drama adaptation of Leif G.W. Perssons best-selling Backstrom series of books is finally heading to the screen with a 13-episode order at Fox. The network, which first developed the project during the 2011-12 season, has stepped in to pick up the pilot starring The Offices Rainn Wilson, from creator/exec producer Hart Hanson and 20th Century Fox TV, originally ordered by CBS last season. The series centers on Detective Everett Backstrom (Wilson), an offensive, irascible detective, as he tries, and fails, to change his self-destructive behavior. Throughout the series, Backstrom leads his team, the Serious Crimes Unit, as they navigate Portlands most sensitive cases.
The project sparked a slew of bidding wars ever since the rights when the books were shopped by LA literary agency RWSG in summer 2011 when 20th TV won them in a very competitive situation for Stephen Gaghan to adapt. The project with Gaghan on board triggered another round of heated bidding among all four major networks until landing at Fox with a put pilot commitment but didnt go to pilot. In July 2012, with Hanson as writer/showrunner, 20th TV again garnered a lot of interest, landing a pilot production commitment at CBS where the script went to pilot last season. After a lengthy and difficult casting process, the pilot landed Wilson as the lead and was considered a solid contender but didnt make the cut to series in May. 20th TV remained high on the project, extending the options on the entire cast through the end of 2013. CBS kept it in contention and did not release the pilot until its option expired on Dec. 15 when the studio took the project to its original network, Fox, which began negotiations on a series order. Naturally, all of us who worked on BACKSTROM thought it was too promising a series to die unseen and Dana and Gary were relentless in their support of the project, said Hanson. Imagine our delight to find that Kevin Reilly and his team at FOX agreed enough to pick it up and give us a good home. Thanks FOX!
The network already has a strong relationship with Hanson, creator of veteran procedural Bones and its spinoff The Finder. The entire cast led by Wilson is set to continue with the exception of Mamie Gummer whose character is being tweaked. Hart Hanson and Rainn Wilson are the perfect combination of creative vision and on-screen talent to bring this one-of-a-kind character and story like BACKSTROM to FOX, said Fox chairman Kevin Reilly. Ive been in business with Hart for a long time, and not only does he have a rare gift for infusing darker themes with relatable humor, hes one of the best showrunners out there today. Together with Rainn who absolutely nails this role and makes it a classic FOX character I think weve got something really special here. Added 20th TV chairmen Dana Walden and Gary Newman, There are so few creators out there with the genuine ability to mix great procedural storytelling with humor, and Hart Hanson is one of those guys. Getting another show on the air with him has been a top priority of this company.
Hanson serves as executive producer on the series with Persson and Niclas Salomonsson, while Wilson will serve as producer alongside Josh Levy. Mark Mylod served as director and executive producer on the pilot. Production is scheduled to begin soon. Co-starring on the show are Kristoffer Polaha, Dennis Haysbert, Page Kennedy and Beatrice Rosen.
