Fox has given a put pilot commitment to develop an hour-long series based on the life and work of Dr. Oliver Sacks, which will be produced by Fabrik Entertainment (Bosch, The Killing), Imaginarium Productions (Mowgli, Breathe, The Ritual) and Warner Bros. TV.
Based on the life and work of renowned neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks, this character-driven medical drama explores the magic and wonder of the human brain. Dubbed by the New York Times “the poet laureate of contemporary medicine,” Sacks dove into bizarre and puzzling case studies as a window into human consciousness, and believed in reconsidering our approach to the mentally ill and neuro-atypical. Part medical mystery, part character study, this is a hopeful story about the power of empathy as a tool for healing.
The as yet untitled series will be written by Alex Berger (Blindspot) and directed by Lee Toland Krieger (You, Riverdale, the upcoming Prodigal Son), who are both under overall deals at Warner Bros. Executive producers are Fabrik Entertainment’s Henrik Bastin and Melissa Aouate and Imaginarium Productions’ Jonathan Cavendish. Fabrik Entertainment VP Abbey Morris will produce.
Fabrik Entertainment is the producer of Amazon’s Bosch, based on Michael Connelly’s best-selling novel series; the upcoming CBS All Access series Interrogation; and AMC’s The Killing. Imaginarium Productions was founded in 2011 by actor/director Andy Serkis (Planet of the Apes, Lord of the Rings) and producer Jonathan Cavendish (Bridget Jones’ Diary, Elizabeth: The Golden Age).
“Oliver Sacks radically altered how the public responded to the neuro-atypical and mentally ill with his extensive research and written works on his patient’s perplexing brain disorders,” said Fabrik Partners Henrik Bastin and Melissa Aouate in a joint statement. “Sacks helped to remove the stigma associated with mental irregularities and we’re thrilled to be working with Alex Berger and Lee Toland Krieger, who share an incredible vision for how to tell this inherently dramatic story. We couldn’t be prouder to be partnered with Imaginarium and Warner Bros. to produce this series for Fox Network, whose ability to showcase and market premium, impactful dramas has long inspired us.”
“Andy Serkis and I are excited to bring these extraordinary case histories and legacy of the unique and brilliant Oliver Sacks to the screen,” said Jonathan Cavendish, co-Founder and co-owner of The Imaginarium.
Fabrik is represented by UTA and Jared Levine at Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner & Gellman. Imaginarium Productions is repped by Pam Black and P.J. Shapiro at Ziffren Brittenham LLP. Alex Berger is repped by Literate and Morris Yorn. Lee Toland Krieger is repped by UTA, Anonymous Content, and attorney George Davis.