9/1/2009

in

Prime Suspect, a popular U.K. television drama series starring Oscar winning actress Helen Mirren is making its way to the U.S. courtesy of NBC and Hank Steinberg, the creator of "Without a Trace," the hit CBS police drama.

Sari N. Kent

NBC has purchased the format of the popular U.K. drama series, "Prime Suspect," and Hank Steinberg, the creator of the CBS police drama, "Without a Trace," has been asked to adapt the show for U.S. television.  
  
According to an article on Variety.com, "Project is the first output from a multi-project pact sealed by NBC and ITV Studios. Deal includes two more pilot commitments over the next two years for ITV fare at NBC - including one blind scripted project and one blind non-scripted project. Partnership was sealed by NBC Primetime Entertainment prexy Angela Bromstad, ITV Global Content managing director Lee Bartlett and U.S.-based ITV Studios CEO Paul Buccieri."  
  
"Prime Suspect" was created by Lynda La Plante and starred Academy Award winning actress Helen Mirren as the straightforward Det. Chief Inspector Jane Tennison, who excelled in a predominately male profession.  
  
According to an article on HollywoodReporter.com, "The series has garnered more than 20 international awards, including Emmys for outstanding miniseries and best lead actress in a movie or miniseries for Mirren. Steinberg is writing the project as part of his three-year overall deal with NBC Universal."  
  
In addition to creating "Trace," Steinberg co-created the short-lived ABC drama, "The Nine," that starred Tim Daly and Chi McBride. Steinberg also wrote "RFK," an FX telepic, and he also earned an Emmy nomination for the telepic, "61\*," which was directed by Billy Crystal.  
  
"We want to carefully choose a couple of iconic titles this year to reinvent, and our intention is to create another classic television show from this brilliant original format," NBC and Universal Media Studios president of primetime entertainment Angela Bromstad said of "Suspect." "Hank Steinberg was key in helping us secure this project, and we are incredibly excited about his modern vision for the show."  
  
The Variety.com article then delves a bit in the background of the series, "In the U.S., 'Prime Suspect' first bowed in 1992 as part of the 'Mystery' series. Mirren starred in five editions of 'Prime Suspect' between 1991 and 1997, before taking a break - and returning with two more editions, in 2003 and 2006."