John Ridley, who won an Oscar in March for his adapted screenplay for 12 Years A Slave, is being fully embraced by ABC. The network, which will air his American Crime series this upcoming midseason, has signed an overall deal with the writer.
The announcement was made during the network’s TV Critics Association press tour panel on Tuesday. According to TheWrap, ABC entertainment chief Paul Lee said that the deal was made just before the network’s presentation was set to start. Under the deal, Ridley will develop new projects for ABC Studios.
“He's an extraordinary showrunner,” Lee told the media, notes The Hollywood Reporter.
Ridley is essentially the face of ABC’s attempt to get into the serious drama business, away from soaps like Revenge or fantasy worlds like Once Upon A Time. Lee talked up American Crime in May, saying that ABC wants to better “reflect the changing face of America.”
American Crime stars Timothy Hutton and Felicity Huffman. It centers on a group of people whose lives are changed by a single, racially charged crime and its trial. Ridley wrote the script and will direct the pilot.
In addition to writing 12 Years A Slave, Ridley also wrote and directed the upcoming Jimi Hendrix biopic Jimi: All Is By My Side.
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