Image Credit: Armando Gallo/Retna LtdEW has confirmed that uber-producer J.J. Abrams, together with Lost executive producer Elizabeth Sarnoff, are gearing up to pitch a new show called Alcatraz, a drama about the infamous prison in the San Francisco Bay. The news was first reported on Deadline.com.
Abrams will produce the project through his Bad Robots shingle based at Warner Bros. TV. Sarnoff, who joined Lost in its second season, wrote the spec script. The duo is expected to make the rounds to the broadcast networks.
Bad Robot already has two series on the air: Fringe on Fox and the upcoming drama Undercovers on NBC.
For more on Abrams:
EW’s Jeff Jensen chats with JJ Abrams and Joss Whedon at Comic-Con
At least this time people won’t whine about not knowing what the Island is.
Hahahahahahaha! Pelican Island.
haha, ceballos..i want to be your friend.
This could be interesting…
Set during the days when the prison was open?
That was a good one, Ceballos!
I refuse to watch this show unless J.J. promises to explain the four-toed statue and the Hurley-bird in the pilot episode! (Ummmm … just in case that went over anyone’s head, the above is an example of sarcastic humor.)
Will there be a plane crash?
Hum…I hope this doesn’t affect the quality of his other shows, especially Fringe, which my family and I have come to love. Yes, the new concept sounds interesting, but JJ might be overextending himself. Still, anything he does is worth at least a try!
Shouldn’t really be a problem because as far as I know he has very little involvement in the day-to-day production of any of Bad Robot’s shows after they get going.
I love JJ Abrams, and I love his shows, but I do miss the days when he was able to really spend time on his shows. During the first 2 seasons of Alias, JJ was really involved. He wrote episodes and directed episodes and did commentaries, and it worked–his show was AMAZING. During season 3, his primary focus began shifting to the initial production of Lost, and by Season 4, Alias wasn’t quite as good as it used to be. JJ clearly has a magic touch; it’s sad that most of his new shows don’t get to fully benefit from it.
Ooooooo. But he will leave, and it will be turned over.
would love more info on the premise of this one. It already sounds interesting, but is the prison open? Is it just about inmates? Or officers too? Is it going to end up being about time travel and polar bears (not that im opposed to that). Who is going to be the longterm showrunner? Sarnoff? (sounds good) more info please!
I’m in, maybe T-Bag will show up. Hold my pocket, pretty.
Wow. From a show where they were on an island with no other land in site to an island where you can see land almost everywhere and neither one could get off the bloody island.
Can JJ Abrams just get Lost?
This has potential. Elizabeth Sarnoff wrote some really good episodes of Lost, and JJ always has an eye for interesting stories. I doubt he’ll stay heavily involved, though.
Nope…not gonna fall into the JJ trap again. Ruined shows are not something I want to spend another six years watching to get hosed at the end.