In recent years, the television landscape has become a haven for complex, character-driven material from some of the best creative minds in the business.  No longer is TV considered the ugly stepchild of the film world, as everyone from Martin Scorsese to David Fincher is now dabbling in the art of longform storytelling with a great amount of creative freedom on networks like HBO, FX, and even Netflix.  Now it appears that one more incredibly talented filmmaker is dipping his toe into the TV pool, as One Hour Photo and Never Let Me Go director Mark Romanek is developing a limited series at FX.

Earlier today, I spoke with Romanek in anticipation of next week’s Blu-ray release of his excellent 2002 film One Hour Photo.  During the course of our conversation, the director revealed that he has just sold a limited series idea to FX based on a true crime story.  Hit the jump for more.

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While speaking with Romanek, I mentioned the fact that he previously helmed the pilot for the graphic novel adaptation Locke & Key (it was not picked up to series), and asked if he would ever consider diving back into the TV world.  As a matter of fact, the filmmaker revealed that he’s currently developing a limited series at FX:

“I just sold a limited series idea to Fox because Fox is planning to turn FX and/or the Fox Movie Network into their sort of HBO for their higher quality, long-form things.  So I’m planning to get started on that, it may be alongside movie projects as opposed to the very next thing that I do, but that’s something we’re developing.  It’s a true crime story that’s so rich and complex and interesting that it could never be squeezed into a two and a half hour movie.”

I asked if Romanek planned on writing the entire series, and he said that while he’ll remain creatively involved for its entire run, he’ll likely only write the first episode:

“I may write the first hour and help conceive of the overriding arch of the thing narratively, but I don’t think that I could write nine hours of television probably or want to make the time commitment to do that.  But I plan to supervise the whole thing on a creative level the same way David Fincher did with House of Cards.”

FX only recently announced an ambitious slate of original programming that included a batch of limited series (ie. shows that have a set number of episodes and a clear-cut beginning, middle, and end), and it’s incredibly promising to hear that a Romanek-led TV show may soon be gracing our airwaves.

Look for my full interview with Romanek here on Collider soon.

 

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Image via Fox Searchlight