EXCLUSIVE: HBO Max is not proceeding with one of its two drama pilots, American Blue, headlined by Milo Ventimiglia. The studio behind it, Warner Bros. Television, is looking to find a new home for it.
There is no official word yet on the streamer’s other pilot, the WBTV family drama How To Survive Without Me starring Ray Romano, Kaley Cuoco and Joshua Jackson, but it has been looking good and appears poised to get a series pickup, I hear.
Both were developed under the model introduced by HBO Max’s Emmy-winning The Pitt, which involves 15+ episodes per season, a modest budget and yearly release. That would make American Blue suitable for both network and streaming buyers.
Written by Jeremy Carver and directed by David Ayer, American Blue centers on native son Brian “Milk” Milkovich (Ventimiglia) who returns to his hometown of Joliet, Illinois, to rescue a beleaguered police force while seeking redemption of his own.
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The series regular cast also includes Kelly Jenrette, Carlito Olivero, Onye Eme-Akwari, Jess Gabor, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Paulina Olszynski, Algee Smith, Jeremy Bobb, Rich Sommer, Jesse Garcia, Wrenn Schmidt, Ellyn Jameson and Maisie Merlock.
Carver executive produces alongside Brian Udovich, Neil Reynolds and Ayer. Ventimiglia co-executive produces, and his longtime producing partner Russ Cundiff produces.