Rob Lowe lands ITV drama

UK commercial broadcaster ITV has ordered a crime drama exec produced by and starring Parks & Recreation actor Rob Lowe.

Rob Lowe
(photo: David Shankbone)

Wild Bill sees Lowe as a high-flying US cop who moves to the UK after being appointed chief constable of the East Lincolnshire Police Force. The series is being produced by prodcos 42, ITV Studios-owned Shiver and Anonymous Content.

It was created by David Griffiths (Collateral Damage), Kyle Killen (Halo), and Dudi Appleton and Jim Keeble (both Silent Witness). Keeble and Appleton serve as lead writers and showrunners.

Lowe will exec produce alongside Eleanor Moran and Rory Aitken for 42 plus Shiver MD Tim Carter. Appleton, Keeble, Griffiths, Killen and Scott Pennington will also exec produce, as will Anonymous Content’s Keith Redmon.

“As an actor, Wild Bill is a larger-than-life character who’s outrageously articulate, has nothing to lose and revels in being an American fish out of water,” said Lowe. “As an executive producer, I’m excited to work with such talented partners and to come back to work in the UK, which I always love.”

The series was commissioned for ITV by head of drama Polly Hill, who described it as “fresh take” on the police procedural genre. ITV Studios Global Entertainment will handle international distribution of the show.

“Wild Bill is Shiver’s first scripted project and is brand new territory for the label,” said Carter. “Having been fortunate to partner with 42 on other scripted projects before coming to ITV Studios, I am delighted to be working with them again and hope this collaboration will be the first of many.”