NBC is looking to bring back Murder, She Wrote, the long-running crime drama that starred Angela Lansbury as an amateur detective. The new version would star Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer.
Writer Alexandra Cunningham and producer David Janollari are looking to give NBC a fresh look at Murder, She Wrote, which originally aired on CBS. According to Deadline, which first reported the news, the new version will feature Spencer as a hospital administrator who investigates crimes on the side. After she self-publishes her first novel, she begins taking active roles in police investigations.
Variety reports that NBC has given the new Murder a put pilot commitment.
Despite airing on CBS, the original series was a Universal TV production. It ran from 1984 to 1996 and Lansbury earned a record 12 Emmy nominations without winning. It won six Golden Globes.
This will be Spencer’s first regular series role. She won an Oscar for her supporting role in 2011’s The Help and recently appeared on CBS’ Mom.
NBC had revived Ironsides this season, with Blair Underwood in the starring role, but the show was cancelled after only four episodes.
image: ABC/Craig Sjodin