Amazon, Katims adapt Israeli autism show

Amazon Studios has ordered a pilot from Jason Katims for a series based on an Israeli comedy-drama about autism.

Jason Katims

The half-hour show is being adapted from Israeli format On the Spectrum. The original series came from Yes Studios, which is producing the remake with Katims’ True Jack Productions, a subsidiary of Universal TV, which is also producing.

It is being written by Katims (Friday Night Lights) and follows the story of three roommates in their 20s on the autism spectrum who are striving to keep their jobs, improve their social lives and fall in love.

Katims, whose son has Asperger syndrome, exec produces with Jeni Mulein and Yes Studios’ Dana Stern. He is set to leave Universal TV later this year after striking an overall deal with Apple.

On the Spectrum is the second autism-focused Israeli drama to be remade on the international market after the BBC in the UK remade Keren Margalit’s Yellow Peppers as The A Word.

Later picked up by networks such as Swedish pubcaster SVT, The A Word was produced by Fifty Fathoms and Keshet UK and is distributed by Keshet International. Amazon previously took exclusive SVoD rights to the show, which also had SundanceTV on board as a US partner.