Scripted TV Is Coming to E!—From Notable Names Like Kevin Spacey, Michael De Luca and John Wells

Network is getting into the scripted-television game with an impressive new slate of programs in development

By Kristin Dos Santos Apr 30, 2012 3:43 PMTags
Kevin SpaceyAP Photo/Kristie Bull/Graylock.com

Love pop culture? And scripted television? Well, you might want to just set your DVR for everything E! right now.

No, really. Go ahead. We'll wait.

E! is getting into the game of scripted television with an impressive new slate of programs in development, from the likes of Kevin Spacey, Michael De Luca (Oscar-nominated producer for The Social Network), John Wells (ER) and writers behind fan-favorite series like Gossip Girl, Brothers & Sisters, CSI and more.

Here's what you need to know...

At E!'s first upfront presentation to advertisers in New York City today, NBCUniversal cable entertainment chairman Bonnie Hammer, E! Entertainment president Suzanne Kolb and E! president of entertainment programming Lisa Berger will unveil the cable network's first scripted development slate, which includes the following projects:

Amy Devlin Mysteries: A modern take on procedural storytelling, Amy Devlin is a late-twentysomething, culturally obsessed detective who brings her own style and POV to police work. It's based on the graphic novel of the same name from writer Daniel Barnz, who wrote and directed Won't Back Down, starring Viola Davis, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Holly Hunter, which hits theaters in September. Executive producers are Barnz, Eric Gitter from Oni Press and Andy Bourne from CBS TV Studios.
 
Anne of Hollywood: Based on the best-selling novel by Carol Wolper, the story of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII is reset in present-day Hollywood—"the flashiest, most treacherous court of all." The elements of Anne's true story—love, passion, intrigue, betrayal, infidelity and conspiracy—remain fully intact, and become truly relatable to today's audience. From John Wells Prods. and Warner Horizon Television.
 
Dorothy: Inspired by the books Dorothy and The Wizard of Oz, a girl from Kansas City falls for a man and moves with him to the Emerald City to work at his Emerald Hotel. From writer Natalie Krinsky (Gossip Girl) and Warner Horizon Television.
 
Fascination Street: A then-and-now look at the tumultuous relationship between two brothers as they work to make their band a success in the past and struggle to find who is behind the disappearance of the lead singer in the present. From executive producers Phillip Noyce (Salt), Josh Reims (Brothers & Sisters) and Ross Fineman (Lights Out), and writer Steven Kijak (Stones In Exile). From Fox TV Studios.

The 400: The rise of the Vanderbilt dynasty is chronicled in this sprawling, stylized and fast-paced drama set in New York society of the 1890s, where "society" was defined by the number of people who could fit into Mrs. Astor's ballroom. From writer Emily Whitesell (Brothers & Sisters), executive producer Anne Thomopoulos (The Borgias) and Fox Television Studios.

Juror #9: Alex Dunbar is a good man who makes one critically bad decision—he accidentally kills a woman who has been blackmailing him for a somewhat shady business deal. He frames a man who turns out to become the scion of a business empire. The ensuing media frenzy engulfs the police investigator, the D.A. and even Alex's wife as the trial becomes a national obsession. As the story unfolds, we learn that the man framed is far from innocent, the blackmailer was not who she seemed and the puppet master for this media circus seems to be juror No. 9…aka Alex Dunbar. From writer Brian Ross (Crossing Jordan), executive producer–director Danny Cannon (CSI) and Warner Horizon Television.
 
King David: From writer and former D.C. lobbyist David Gerken (The West Wing), who has worked for Nancy Pelosi and George Mitchell, comes the tale of a modern-day Mr. Smith who is, in this case, a self-made billionaire with a penchant for hooking up with lobbyists in the nation's capital. Gerken will also serve as coexecutive producer. From Universal Cable Productions.

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Untitled Assistant Project: Ambition bordering on insubordination fuels the lives of a group of executive assistants who are seemingly loyal minions to their high-powered bosses. However, when their superiors are out of the office, the gloves come off as these aspiring titans plot their way up the corporate ladder. From writers Meredith Lavender and Marcie Ulin (Missing), executive producer Gary A. Randall (The Glades), and Fox Television Studios.
 
Upstarts: Two-time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey and Oscar-nominated producer Michael De Luca (The Social Network) are executive producers through their respective production companies, Trigger Street Prods. and Michael De Luca Prods., of this sprawling drama in which three big dreamers seek to grab their share of wealth and glory amid Silicon Valley's digital gold rush of the late 1990s. Fueled by power, money, sex and politics, these three will stop at nothing to earn a spot atop the digital food chain. Written by Joey Falco, who will also be a coexecutive producer along with Dana Brunetti, Ben Younger and Brian Haas. Younger is set to direct, if ordered to pilot. From Universal Cable Prods.
 
Stand by for more E! news later today, as we cover E!'s upfront in New York City. E!'s biggest stars including the Kardashian family, Joel McHale, Chelsea Handler, Giuliana Rancic and more are expected on the red carpet tonight. Tweet @kristindsantos with any questions!