TNT Eyes John Wells' Medical Drama 'Gimme Shelter'

EXCLUSIVE: TNT already successfully rescued one John Wells-produced drama project passed over by a broadcast network: former NBC cop drama Southland, just renewed by TNT for a fourth season.

Now the cable network is looking to try and do the same for  the Wells-produced medical drama Gimme Shelter, originally developed for CBS last development season. The project, about a medical team that travels the U.S. helping those less fortunate get through life-or-death medical crises, was written by Hannah Shakespeare and produced by John Wells Prods. and Warner Bros TV. It was picked up to pilot, which was directed by frequent Wells collaborator Chris Chulack, but despite boasting a strong cast — Sissy Spacek, Amy Smart, Skeet Ulrich, Janeane Garofalo, Jay Hernandez, Michael Beach and Rachelle Lefevre — CBS ultimately passed on the pilot.

Now TNT is in talks about redeveloping Gimme Shelter, with all original auspices, including Wells and Shakespeare, expected to be involved. However, the original cast members were released last June, and most of them have booked other TV projects, so it is unclear whether any of them would be part of the TNT version if it goes to pilot/series.