NBCU, RTL, TF1 unveil procedural

NBCUniversal International Studios (NBCUIS), Germany’s RTL and TF1 in France have greenlit the first show to come from the procedural drama pact they forged in April 2015.

Fabrice Bailly

Gone (12×60′) is based on Chelsea Cain’s novel One Kick and has been created by Matt Lopez (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice), with an airdate of late 2017/early 2018 scheduled.

The show, which will star Law & Order’s Chris Noth, follows the survivor of a child abduction who pairs up with the FBI agent who rescued her to solve crimes.

Lopez will exec produce alongside NBCUIS executive VP of scripted programming JoAnn Alfano, and Sara Colleton (Dexter).

It’s the first show to emerge from the collaboration between NBCUIS, RTL and TF1, which was signed at MipTV last year to supply US-style procedural content to Europe.

All episodes will be written, cast and produced in the US, with RTL and TF1 distributing the series in their territories. NBCUniversal International Distribution will license the rights for the US and the rest of the world on behalf of the partnership.

Joerg Graf, exec VP of production and acquisition at RTL, said: “TF1 and NBCUniversal International Studios share our view that tailor-made formats will meet the increasing need of our viewers for high-quality modern crime dramas.”

Fabrice Bailly, head of programmes and acquisition for TF1 Group, added: “The collaborative relationship represents a new way of working, for both studios and European broadcasters, to achieve high-quality procedural dramas.”