Feb. 08--At least three network TV pilots are confirmed to shoot in Chicago next month.
According to Rich Moskal, of the Chicago Film Office, all three shows come from 20th Century Fox Television, the studio behind "Empire," which also films locally.
No casting has been reported yet, but we know a little about the pilots.
"Zoobiquity": The one-hour drama comes from "Bones" executive producers Stephen Nathan and Jon Collier. It centers on a driven cardiologist "as she risks career suicide by teaming with a socially challenged veterinarian who relates better to animals than people," per Deadline. Together they practice a "unique blend of cross-species medicine that's never been tried before."
"The Exorcist": Based on the classic 1971 horror novel and subsequent 1973 film, Variety describes it as a "propulsive, serialized psychological thriller following two very different men tackling one family's case of horrifying demonic possession, and confronting the face of true evil."
"A.P.B.": Also a one-hour drama, the show centers on a "tech billionaire who purchases a troubled police precinct in the wake of a loved one's murder," per Variety, adding that "the series will explore if the eccentric and enigmatic figure's cutting-edge approach can fix the broken ways of the blue blooded veterans."
Meanwhile, we're still waiting to hear if the Showtime drama from writer and Chicago native Lena Waithe and executive producer Common (which shot a pilot in town last fall) will be picked up to series.
nmetz@tribpub.com
