Highland - Margaret Cho to Star in Comedic Drama Pilot + Ridley Scott Developing Sci-Fi Block for TNT

TNT Orders Liz Sarnoff and Margaret Cho's Highland to Pilot

Cho to Star and Co-Write Script with Sarnoff for Comedic Drama from Tomorrow Studios and Turner's Studio T

Turner's TNT has ordered a pilot for Highland, a scripted drama written and executive produced by Liz Sarnoff (Lost, Barry) and actress-comedian Margaret Cho (Margaret Cho: PsyCHO, Drop Dead Diva), who will also star. The pilot, which is inspired by Cho's personal history with substance abuse, is a co-production of Marty Adelstein's Tomorrow Studios and Turner's Studio T, with Cho serving as executive producer

Highland will chronicle what happens when two extended, dysfunctional Korean-American families who share the same patriarch must come together after tragedy strikes. As it turns out, the most reliable person in both families is the one who just got out of rehab.

"Liz Sarnoff and Margaret Cho's brilliant script exposes Margaret's warm heart and bracing humor, balancing powerful emotional truths with laugh-out-loud scenes and characters," said Sarah Aubrey, executive vice president of original programming for TNT. "Highland continues TNT's commitment to bringing diverse voices and worlds to television. We look forward to making a pilot with such a singular talent as Margaret Cho."

Highland joins an ever-expanding roster of TNT pilots designed to continue the network's programming evolution that began last year with the summer hit Animal Kingdom. The pilot marks TNT's third project with Tomorrow Studios, which also produces the network's acclaimed new drama Good Behavior, starring Michelle Dockery, and is currently in production on a pilot for Snowpiercer, an action-packed drama based on the award-winning film by Bong Joon Ho. TNT's development slate also includes pilots for The Deep Mad Dark, a thriller about the complexities of friendship, from executive producers John Wells and Megan Martin, and Deadlier Than the Male (working title), a challenging and morally complex thriller about three damaged people trying to start over, from executive producers Bruna Papandrea, Harriet Warner and Casey Haver.

Source:

TNT

Ridley Scott Developing Sci-Fi Block for TNT

Turner's TNT has begun working with master storyteller and filmmaker Ridley Scott (The Martian, Blade Runner, Alien: Covenant) to develop a night of original science-fiction programming. Initial plans call for the block to serve as a showcase for hour-long series, short-form programs and other formats to be developed in collaboration with Scott. The slate is being produced by Scott's Scott Free Productions in association with Turner's Studio T, with Scott and David W. Zucker (The Good Wife, The Man in the High Castle) serving as executive producers and Jordan Sheehan (The Good Fight, The Terror) and Clayton Krueger (JCVJ, Mercy Street) as co-executive producers.

"We're looking to create a programming block filled with the kind of imaginative, awe-inspiring storytelling that has made science fiction such a beloved and enduring genre," said Sarah Aubrey, executive vice president of original programming for TNT. "Ridley Scott has created some of the best and most popular science-fiction movies of all time, and we look forward to bringing his fans even more of his smart, sophisticated stories."

One of the world's foremost directors and producers, Ridley Scott is known for his work on such films as The Martian, Thelma & Louise, Alien, Black Hawk Down, Blade Runner and Gladiator. Throughout his illustrious career, Scott has been lauded with Emmys®, Producers Guild of America Awards and Directors Guild of America Awards. Scott serves as head of RSA and Scott Free Productions.

"Being given the creative license to generate and develop science fiction programming in a variety of formats for TNT is very exciting," said Scott. "This genre is one of my favorites, and there are an infinite amount of original and innovative story ideas out there that we are looking forward to exploring with TNT. It is very exciting for all of us."

TNT's new sci-fi block will mark Scott's second project for the network. He previously served as executive producer on the network's award-winning CIA miniseries The Company in 2007.

Source:

TNT