Fox Makes First Orders Under New Model: “Series Prototype” For ‘Red Band Society’, “Further Investment” For ‘Runner’

EXCLUSIVE: Fox chairman Kevin Reilly quickly is putting his money where his mouth is, making his first move since announcing Monday that the network is abandoning the traditional pilot season for a new development approach that focuses on series. That involves making fewer pilots at different times during the year, all geared towards series, or going straight to series on some concepts that had been fully developed with multiple scripts and a bible.

Related: Fox’s Abolishment Of Pilot Season: Practical Guide To How Will It Work

Drama Red Band Society, From Amblin Television and ABC Studios, is getting a firm go on a “series prototype”, a pilot-type production order, plus additional backup scripts. Another drama, Runner (working title), from Sander/Moses Prods., Peter Horton and 20th TV, has received what Fox calls “an off-cycle commitment for further investment towards series production” this summer. That means backup scripts, hiring writers and writing a bible with an eye towards a straight to series pickup. Both projects are adaptation of European formats. (more…)