FX has ordered a new drama pilot Tyrant from Homeland creators Gideon Raff and Howard Gordon. The series is about an American family that is drawn into the turbulence of a Middle Eastern country. Craig Wright, creator of ABC's Dirty, Sexy Money is attached as showrunner. Amusingly, the project is colloquially known as Reverse Homeland. The pilot will shoot in spring 2013 and is reportedly on the fast track to a series order.
Update: here is the official press release:
FX CAPTURES “TYRANT”
Network Orders Drama Series Pilot From
Award-Winning “Homeland” Producers Howard Gordon & Gideon Raff
And Emmy-Nominated Writer/Producer Craig Wright
Los Angeles, December 10, 2012 – FX has ordered the drama series pilot for Tyrant, from Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award-winning producers Howard Gordon and Gideon Raff (Homeland), and Emmy-nominated writer/producer Craig Wright (Six Feet Under, Lost), it was announced today by Nick Grad, Executive Vice President of Original Programming, FX.
“We are thrilled to bring Tyrant to FX,” stated Grad. “The brilliant and wholly original concept just blew us all away. It’s pretty amazing when you read a script and can instantly imagine it becoming one of the best shows on television. We’re grateful to the producers for choosing to bring it to FX and look forward to continuing our partnership with our friends at Fox 21.”
Tyrant tells the story of an unassuming American family drawn into the workings of a turbulent Middle Eastern nation. The series was created by Raff and developed by Gordon and Wright. Raff wrote the pilot script, which comes from Teakwood Lane, the shingle Gordon has set up at 20th Century Fox Television. Gordon, Raff and Wright are executive producers in association with Keshet Broadcasting. If Tyrant receives a series order, Wright will serve as showrunner.
“Tyrant is exactly the type of project we aim to do at Fox 21 – working with extremely talented writer/creators to create provocative material with big, breakout characters and themes,” said Bert Salke, President Fox 21. “This script has excited everyone who’s read it and it’s particularly gratifying to be back working with FX, with whom we have had such a successful partnership on the fantastic Sons Of Anarchy.”
Production is tentatively slated to begin in Spring of 2013.
Fox 21
Fox 21 is a production company housed within Twentieth Century Fox Television devoted to making creatively ambitious scripted series for the cable television market, as well as unscripted shows for both cable and broadcast networks. Led by President Bert Salke, Fox 21 produces the Emmy and Golden Globe winning Homeland starring Emmy winners Claire Danes and Damian Lewis, the critically acclaimed smash hit Sons Of Anarchy, and the breakout animated comedy Brickleberry from Daniel Tosh.
About FX
FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable network from Fox. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 98 million homes. The diverse schedule features a growing roster of critically acclaimed and award-winning hit dramas series Sons Of Anarchy and Justified; the miniseries American Horror Story: Asylum; the upcoming drama series The Americans (January 2013); the acclaimed hit comedy series It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, The League, Louie, Archer, Wilfred, BrandX with Russell Brand, and Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell; and the upcoming comedy Legit (January 2013). The network’s library of acquired box-office hit movies is unmatched by any ad-supported television network. FX's other offerings include the acquired hit series Two and a Half Men and How I Met Your Mother, and live sports with UFC and NCAA football.
Shoot, I was hoping it was based on the shortlived independent comic book about the life cycle of a Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Very excited! I’m being overwhelmed with shows that will/can fill my 24 void. Right now, Homeland is doing a great job. Next month, FX’s The Americans looks to be very promising. And now, Tyrant.
As you can tell, my favourite shows are shows involving spies/CIA/terrorists.
I’d watch the Dinosaur show.
Waiting for a great cast,not always the case on FX.
Cast?
Sarah Michelle Gellar for the mother’s role. Please. Make it happen, FX.
@CD–24 is going to be shown, starting with season one, beginning 7 January on the Audience network. I’m not sure if that’s a DirecTV-owned channel or not, but we are looking forward to watching it again.
I thought it was a show about Obozo, our president.
“I thought it was a show about Obozo, our president.”
Let’s keep the political chatter in the cable news comments.
Sounds good. At the very least, it’s not another doctor/lawyer/cop show.
Just what we need during the run up to a war with Iran – another Muslim-bashing TV series…
Apparently Homeland wasn’t enough…
Who’s financing these shows – Bibi Netanyahu? Or his sock-puppet, Sheldon Adelson?
@RSH
Have you ever actually watched Homeland? It’s a lot more complex than just “Muslim-bashing.” And do you think that maybe you should withhold judgment on a show until after it actually airs?
I guess it’s easier to just spew overly simplistic political statements than to actually engage with the complexities of the situations presented in a show like Homeland.
I’ll admit I don’t watch Homeland, but if I did watch it I’m sure I’d like it. What I’m really excited about is that Craig Wright is showrunner! Underemployed is so good but has zero viewership so I’m glad he was able to land a new show so quickly. This show should be a really good political thriller with just enough sexual tension and visuals to bring in the young audience too. I hope Wright can bring Inbar Lavi from Underemployed to this show!
@RSH
TV shows need to reflect the interests of our times. It is no more Muslim-bashing to portray Islamic terrorists as villains today than to suggest a German soldier might be a villain during WWII, or for American Revolutionaries to tell stories that might involve British soldiers as villains.
We don’t need politically correct and tear-stained speeches to explain how there are good and bad people in every cultural group in a TV show. We just know that the violent ones of any group have the most impact on society…and impact on society raises interest.
Since Tyrant seems like it’s giving us a high-stakes “what if” it sounds like good television to me. Spare us political correctness at all costs!