By RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com, originally filed February 10, 2015
ABC is bringing a TV pilot "Quantico" to Atlanta, a good source has told me.
The drama, which is to include Tate Ellington ("The Mindy Project") centers on a group of young FBI recruits battling their way through training at the Quantico base in Virginia. Through flashforwards, we will learn that one will be a sleeper terrorist responsible for the most devastating terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9/11.
Ellington will play one of the trainees, Simon, a hipster cute gay Jewish guy from Brooklyn, a former CPA with a knack for foreign languages. This would potentially be his first regular role on a TV show.
Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra will play Alex Weaver, a brilliant but haunted FBI trainee whose past boils to the surface soon after her arrival at Quantico.
TV seems to be getting into these dark espionage/terrorism-related shows, with Showtime's "Homeland," NBC's "State of Affairs" and "Allegiance" and FX's "The Americans," to name a few.
If "Quantico" gets picked up, it will air sometime during the 2015-16 broadcast season.
The producers are Josh Safran ("Gossip Girl," "Smash") and Mark Gordon ("Criminal Minds," "Grey's Anatomy") from ABC Studios.
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I hear HBO is planning to shoot a six-part miniseries in Atlanta about Lewis & Clark called 'Undaunted Courage," though I have no heard a confirmation from HBO itself.
This idea has been in gestation for a long time. Nine months ago, Casey Affleck was cast as Lewis.
It's based on the book of the same title by Stephen Ambrose.
Executive producers are Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt and Gary Goetzman.
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HGTV is bringing out another "Virgin" show. "Property Virgins" shot three seasons in Atlanta. Now it's launching "Flipping Virgins" locally. There was a casting notice last month. I am not sure if they are still casting.
CASTING NOTICE!!! I am working on a pilot order for a new HGTV show called "Flipping Virgins". I am looking for FIRST TIME HOME FLIPPERS who are looking to document the process on TV. If you have bought a home before, no problem. You must be a first time home flipper though. If you are interested, I am happy to provide you with more information. **PLEASE SHARE IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED!**
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