ABC has has given a pilot production commitment to Deception, an FBI crime drama procedural from Chuck co-creator Chris Fedak and magician, puzzle creator and writer/producer David Kwong, who serves as consultant on NBC’s FBI drama Blindspot. The project hails from Warner Bros. TV and studio-based Greg Berlanti’s Berlanti Television, which are behind Blindspot, with Blindspot creator Martin Gero also executive producing.
Written by Fedak, Deception centers on a superstar magician. When hiss career is ruined by scandal, he has only one place to turn to practice his art of deception, illusion, and influence — the FBI. He’ll become the world’s first consulting illusionist, helping the government solve crimes that defy explanation, and trap criminals and spies by using deception.
Fedak executive produces with Gero and Berlanti TV’s Berlanti and Sarah Schechter. Kwong serves as co-producer.
This is the second drama sale with a big commitment at ABC for the Blindspot team of Gero, Berlanti and Schechter. They also have CIA action drama Criminal, which Gero is writing with Blindspot co-executive producer Brendan Gall. Also at ABC, Berlanti TV has comedy Raised by Wolves, written by Diablo Cody, an adaptation of the 2015 UK comedy series.
Fedak serves as executive producer/co-showrunner on WBTV/Berlanti TV’s DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. Kwong also was a consultant on the feature Now You See Me.
Fedak, Gero and Berlanti TV are repped by WME.
That sounds right up CBS/USA’s alley… surprised ABC wants a dim concept like this.
Fedak! Go dude!
Sounds like that weird old TV show “Black’s Magic”
The Mentalist part deux? Is someone gonna give Bruno a cut?
Is truly amazing how much product Berlanti and company have on the air and in the pipeline. If it were only good.
While there’s some magic in how this magician got himself involved… the real trick will be how the writers shake him once he starts trying to give “notes”.