Women-centric television projects from Diablo Cody and Caroline Dries are on the horizon.
According to reports from The Hollywood Reporter, ABC gave a pilot order to “Raised by Wolves,” written and executive produced by Cody (“Juno,” “United States of Tara”). And Dries’ (“The Vampire Diaries”) adaptation of the graphic novel “Witchblade” received a script commitment from NBC.
Cody’s “Raised by Wolves” is based on Caitlin Moran and Caroline Moran’s semi-autobiographical UK series of the same name. It’s the story of Sheila Gable, “a tough mother struggling to support her five opinionated, eccentric kids on a shoestring budget in a Midwestern town,” THR writes.
The single-camera series will be executive produced by Greg Berlanti (“Supergirl”) and Sarah Schechter of Berlanti Productions. The Morans will also exec produce with Kenton Allen, Matthew Justice, and Caroline Leddy of Big Talk Productions.
Cody is involved in a couple other TV projects besides “Raised by Wolves.” The multi-hyphenate is co-developing a synchronized-swimming comedy for Fox, and is currently a writer and co-creator on Amazon’s “One Mississippi, ” starring Tig Notaro. The series has been renewed for a second season.
Meanwhile, “Witchblade” is adapted from Marc Silvestri’s graphic novel, which “centers on homicide detective Sara Pezzini, who’s on the hunt for an elusive serial killer and must navigate the grisly streets and police politics of San Francisco’s Mission District — until one day, the bracelet she has worn her entire life gives her supernatural insight into a crime she’s trying to solve. Her bracelet is the Witchblade, an amulet that has been worn by remarkable women throughout history, and Sara is next in line.”
Dries is set to write the script and executive produce the drama series with “Vampire Diaries” colleague Brian Young. “Witchblade” will also be exec produced by Carol Mendelsohn and Julie Weitz of Carol Mendelsohn Productions, as well as Silvestri, Matt Hawkins, Rick Jacobs, and Dave Alpert.
This is not the first attempt to adapt “Witchblade” for the screen. The comic served as the premise for the Yancy Butler starring-TNT series of the same name. It aired for two seasons from 2001–2002. There were also plans for a “Witchblade” movie that never came to fruition. Here’s hoping the third time’s the charm.
