EXCLUSIVE: HBO Max continues to follow The Pitt blueprint for its drama pilots under the same model, getting a well known TV star as the lead. This Is Us alum Milo Ventimiglia has been tapped to star in American Blue, HBO Max’s cop drama pilot from former Supernatural showrunner Jeremy Carver and Warner Bros Television, where Carver is under an overall deal. David Ayer (Suicide Squad, Fury) has come on board to direct.
Written by Carver, 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.
Ventimiglia’s Milk is a quietly determined, natural-born leader hoping to find a second chance in the place he left behind.
Watch on Deadline
Carver executive produces alongside Brian Udovich, Neil Reynolds and Ayer. Ventimiglia co-executive produces, with his longtime producing partner Russ Cundiff serving as a producer.
“American Blue will take audiences inside a gritty and authentic police drama, reflecting the myriad challenges in policing today,” said Sarah Aubrey, Head of Max Original Programming. “As with The Pitt, our goal of longer seasons will allow viewers to sink deeply into this world across multiple episodes and to return to it on an annual basis. We can’t wait for Jeremy Carver’s vision for American Blue to come to life with Milo Ventimiglia in the lead role and David Ayer directing our pilot.”
American Blue is one of two HBO Max pilots, along with family drama How To Survive Without Me, developed under the model introduced by the streamer’s Emmy-winning The Pitt, which involves 15+ episodes per season, a modest budget and yearly release.
Like The Pitt, created/executive produced by R. Scott Gemmill, executive produced by John Wells and starring/executive produced by Noah Wyle — who all worked together on ER — American Blue comes from an experienced network TV showrunner, Carver, who has delivered 20+ episodes a year, and is headlined by a star of a hugely popular broadcast series, This Is Us‘ Ventimiglia.
“We are thrilled to have Milo and David join American Blue,” said Clancy Collins White, President, Creative Affairs, Warner Bros Television. “Milo’s dynamic presence on-screen and David’s keen eye are a perfect match for the complex, character-driven drama that Jeremy created. We look forward to seeing this trio bring Milk’s journey to life.”
In addition to his role as patriarch Jack Pearson on NBC’s This Is Us, which earned him three Emmy nominations, Ventimiglia also starred on NBC’s Heroes and is known for playing Jess on Gilmore Girls. He is part of the main cast of Netflix’s next Harlan Coben limited series adaptation, I Will Find You. Ventimiglia is repped by WME, Entertainment 360 and McKuin Frankel Whitehead.
This marks only the second TV directing gig for Ayer, who previously helmed the pilot and second episode of the 2020 Fox police drama series Deputy from Will Beall. Ayer, who most recently directed A Working Man and The Beekeeper, is repped by WME and David Weber and Tom Collier at Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern.