Battlestar Galactica mastermind Ron Moore’s supernatural cop drama project has been picked up for a pilot by NBC.
The show, tentatively titled ’17th Precinct,’ is set in the fictional town of Excelsior where the laws of science are outweighed by magic and the supernatural. Insiders have been dubbing the show an “adult Harry Potter” with cops serving as the wizards who lay down the law.
’17th Precinct’s’ tone could play a big role in whether it launches hot like ‘Heroes’ and sustain through the first season or drops sharply from episode to episode. A lighter tone with drama weaved in ala ‘Firefly’ or ‘House’ might appeal to a broader audience and attract female viewers in addition to males naturally drawn to cop dramas and special effects. A more serious dramatic tone with little humor like NBC’s ‘The Event’ could shrink the potential viewership pool.
For Moore, ’17th Precinct’ is his first deal under a new multi-project agreement with Sony Pictures TV who successfully wooed the writer and producer away from Syfy where he gave birth to the modern ‘Battlestar Galactica’ series and its short-lived spin-off, ‘Caprica.’
Source: Deadline
