Former Walking Dead showrunner is working on a period drama for TNT based on John Buntin's highly acclaimed 2009 book L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America's Most Seductive City.
The book, set in the 1940's and 50's Los Angeles explores the battle between former police chief William Parker and mobster Mickey Cohen for control of Los Angeles itself. TNT describes the series as a faced-paced crime drama in "a world of glamorous movie stars, powerful studio heads, returning war heroes, a powerful and corrupt police force and an even more dangerous criminal network determined to make L.A. its West Coast base."
Darabont is slated to write and direct the pilot as well as stepping in to be executive producer. He will team up with Michael De Luca (The Social Network) and Elliot Webb. The co-executive producer will be Alissa Phillips (Moneyball).
Darabont went on to say: “Noir is a passion of mine, so I feel blessed to delve into a project that speaks in the hardboiled vernacular. John Buntin’s superb book, though non-fiction, is our touchstone and inspiration for the stories we’ll be telling, weaving fiction throughout the facts and facts throughout the fiction. The book provides elements that are irresistible, a big canvas with endless possibilities. The goal is to deliver on the tone that the title L.A. Noir promises: a smart, gritty, authentic, period noir drama.”
While not in the same time period, one can get a
Boardwalk Empire type vibe off of this proposed show. Darabont has some real talent surrounding him overseeing this show, so that is a good sign. What say you, is this a good follow up from the smash hit he had with the
Walking Dead? Does this sound like a hit? Sound off below.