FOX ORDERS PARAMOUNT
COP PILOT
Copyright 2001 www.variety.com
[ November 7th 2001 ]
Fox has
ordered a telly pilot from Paramount Network Television
and the Littlefield Co. that follows the exploits
of an NYPD cop who becomes a private eye in London.
Joel Wyman is on board to write the script to
Keen Eddy, which has been pitched as a cross between
1970s cop series McCloud and British indie pic
Snatch.
Exec
producers Warren Littlefield and Simon West ("Lara
Croft: Tomb Raider") plan to film the drama pilot
(and potential series) in Britain. Littlefield
said he hatched the fish-out-of-water tale as
a means to work with West, who lives with his
family in London.
"I really
started to say to myself, if I wanted to get into
business with Simon and get him actively involved
in the series, let's get practical - let's set
it in London," Littlefield said.
Simon
was a strong proponent for shooting "Keen Eddy"
in London, given the country's flexible union
rules and potential British financing partners.
"One of the largest markets is the U.K.," Littlefield
said. "One would think that this would be attractive
to a U.K. partner."
Also,
Fox has found itself drawn to the other side of
the Pond lately. The net's midseason drama "Emma
Brody," which debuts next spring, is set and shot
in London.
With
a fish-out-of-water concept at its core, "Keen
Eddy" will rely heavily on comedy as well as crime
stories. The producers are looking for an American
to serve as the show's iconic male lead; the rest
of the cast will be rounded out with British character
actors.
The project
is Littlefield's first pickup since he moved his
company to Paramount earlier this year, and West's
first project for U.S. TV since he recently inked
a seven-figure, multiyear overall deal with the
studio.
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