ABC has given a straight to series order to Avalon, a new series based on the 20221 short story from Bosh and The Lincoln Lawyer author Michael Connelly.
The series takes place in the main city of Avalon on Catalina Island, where LA Sheriff Department Detective Nicole “Nic” Searcy heads up a small office. Catalina 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.
The pilot episode will be written by David E. Kelley (Big Sky, Big Little Lies) and will premiere as part of ABC’s 2022-2023 primetime slate.
Avalon is also executive produced by both Kelley and Connelly in addition to Ross Fineman (Fineman Entertainment) and Barry Jossen & Tana Jamieson (A+E Studios).
“David E. Kelley is one of the great storytellers of our time and we are excited to continue our successful relationship with him on what we believe will be his next epic series on ABC,” said Craig Erwich, president, Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment. “Michael Connelly’s short story is ripe with mystery and intrigue, and we can’t wait for David and Michael to bring this eerie and captivating world to life.”
“Excited to reunite with Michael Connelly,” said David E. Kelley. “He’s written a fantastic short story, a great protagonist. Can’t wait to get started.”
“Being on a project with David E. Kelley again is amazing,” said Michael Connelly. “This whole team of David, A+E and Ross Fineman has been wonderful to work with previously; and now joining up with ABC, well, I can’t wait to start. Catalina is full of mystery and good storytelling. We’re going to put it on the screen.”
“I read Michael Connelly’s short story, moments after it was sent to me by Ross Fineman. The knowledge that David E. Kelley would be working with Michael to create ‘Avalon’ the series convinced me it would be a huge success,” said Barry Jossen, president, and head of A+E Studios. “‘Avalon’ will be an exciting collaboration for A+E Studios, Fineman, ABC, 20th Television and two great generational talents — Kelley and Connelly.”