David E. Kelley Lands Straight-To-Series Order For Adaptation Of Michael Connelly’s ‘Avalon’ At ABC

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David E. Kelley continues to add to his order book.The Big Little Lies creator has scored a straight-to-series order at ABC for Avalon, a drama series based on Michael Connelly’s short story.It is Kelley’s latest project for the Disney-owned network – Big Sky is currently in its second season – as well as his latest adaptation of Connelly’s work – he has an adaptation of The Lincoln Lawyer at Netflix.Avalon, which is ABC’s first straight-to-series order for its 2022/23 programming slate, takes place in the city of Avalon on Catalina Island, where LA Sheriff Department Detective Nicole “Nic” Searcy heads up a small office.2022 ABC Pilots & Series OrdersCatalina has a local population that serves more than 1 million tourists a year, and each day when the ferries arrive, hundreds of potential new stories enter the island.

Detective Searcy is pulled into a career-defining mystery that will challenge everything she knows about herself and the island.Avalon was published last year as part of the When A Stranger Comes To Town short story collection.Kelley, who will write the pilot episode, created the series with Connelly and the pair will exec produce.The series is produced by A+E Studios, which produces Kelley’s Big Sky, and 20th Television.

Fineman Entertainment’s Ross Fineman, who exec produces Big Sky and The Lincoln Lawyer, will exec produce alongside A+E Studios’ Barry Jossen and Tana Jamieson.Kelley, who also behind Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers and HBO’s The Undoing, also has a second season of Big Shot at Disney+, Presumed Innocent with J.J.

Abrams at Apple, an adaptation of A Man In Full with Regina King and and Anatomy of a Scandal for Netflix, Love and Death at HBO Max and The Missing at Peacock.‘Presumed Innocent’