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ABC Gives Green Light to Script from John Ridley

by ScreenCraft Staff on January 15, 2014

ABC has given a pilot green light to a new crime drama by John Ridley titled American Crime. Ridley wrote the script and will executive-produce through ABC Studios along with Michael McDonald, former ABC Studios head of drama.

The show focuses on a racially-charged murder and the subsequent trial.

According to an article in The Hollywood Reporter, "American Crime will examine the personal lives of the players involved in a racially charged trial as their worlds are turned upside down."

"The case takes on greater meaning in the community, bringing to the forefront America’s hardened views on race, class and gender politics," reported Deadline.

The pick-up announcement arrives just a couple days after the 12 Years a Slave screenwriter took home the Golden Globe for best drama feature. Ridley was the executive producer and screenwriter for All is By My Side, 12 Years a Slave and the TV movie Da Brick. He has also written several episodes of television shows, including The Wanda Skyes Show, Barbershop, Third Watch, Platinum and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

THR reported that Ridley's new ABC Studios project "marks his return to TV and comes three years after HBO passed on his boxing drama Da Brick and five years after The Wanda Sykes Show ended its run. For ABC, this marks the network's fourth drama pilot order this season."

In other recent Hollywood news, The Berlin International Film Festival has named James Schamus jury president for this year’s festival. Check out the ScreenCraft post, "Berlin International Film Festival Names James Schamus Jury President."

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