Today it’s CBS’ turn to announce which pilots it is moving forward with, and unsurprisingly the theme is franchises. The network announced that the Rush Hour and Limitless TV show adaptations will be greenlit, as will a Criminal Minds spinoff, a medical drama, and two comedies. Let’s take a closer look…
Rush Hour is, of course, an adaptation of the feature film trilogy of the same name that starred Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. This hourlong dramedy revolves around a by-the-books Hong Kong police officer (Jon Foo) who is assigned a case in Los Angeles where he’s forced to team up with a cocky LAPD officer (Justin Hires). The pilot was penned by Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence and Cougar Town alum Blake McCormick, with the two are executive producing alongside Jeff Ingold and the film’s Brett Ratner, Arthur Sark, and Jon Turtletaub, who directed the pilot.
CBS’ other movie-to-TV adaptation is Limitless, based on the Bradley Cooper-fronted film of the same name. Jake McDorman plays a man who discovers the power of the brain-enhancing drug NZT and is forced to use his newfound abilities to help solve weekly cases for the FBI.
Dexter’s Jennifer Carpeneter stars alongside Hill Harper and Mary Elizbaeth Mastrantonio, and the pilot was written by Craig Sweeny (Elementary). Cooper also executive produces the series and is rumored to make a cameo in the pilot, with Todd Phillips, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, and Heather Kadin also serving as executive producers. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 helmer Marc Webb directed the pilot.
CBS is also expanding its Criminal Minds franchise with the spinoff Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, which is led by Gary Sinise and focuses on an FBI division tasked with helping American citizens who find themselves abroad. This is CBS’ second stab at a Criminal Minds spinoff, with Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior being cancelled after one season. Beyond Borders hails from Criminal Minds showrunner Erica Messer.
The network also ordered a medical drama called Code Black, which stars Marcia Gay Harden and is based on the feature documentary of the same name. It takes place in the busiest and most notorious ER in the country. Harden replaced Maggie Grace in a retooled version of the pilot, and the show is executive produced by Marti Noxon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).
On the comedy front, CBS ordered Angel from Hell starring Jane Lynch who enters a woman’s life claiming to be her guardian angel and the family ensemble Life in Pieces, from Better Off Ted alum Justin Adler and starring Dianne Wiest, James Brolin, Colin Hanks, and Betsy Brandt.
