ABC is expanding its relationship with Emmy nominee Sofia Vergara, ordering to pilot an adaptation of Argentine series Killer Women and adding a drama from Awake creator Kyle Killen.
Killer Women is a soapy procedural revolving around a female Texas Ranger, with the Modern Family star attached to executive produce the hourlong project. The soapy drama landed at the network with a script commitment in October.
The drama is based on the POL-KA Productiones' Argentine series, Mueres Asesinas, which itself is based on the book trilogy of the same name by Marisa Grinstein.
STORY: TV Pilots 2013: The Complete Guide
Hannah Shakespeare (The Raven) will pen the script and executive produce alongside feature director Martin Campbell (Casino Royale), Vergara and her Latin World Entertainment partner Luis Balaguer.
The drama hails from ABC Studios and Electus, with Ben Silverman also on board to executive produce. It marks Electus' first pilot order this season; the company also has several other projects in development at the broadcast networks this season.
Vergara started her career in Colombia as a model/actress, eventually playing Alicia Oviedo on the local version of Desperate Housewives.
Worth noting: ABC also has a semi-autobiographical comedy from Vergara's Modern Family co-star Ty Burrell awaiting word on its future. Burrell co-wrote the script with his brother, Duncan.
For its part, Killen's Influence is being billed as a provocative workplace ensemble centered on the complicated relationship between two brothers who head a unique agency designed to attack their clients’ problems using the real science of human motivation and manipulation.
Lone Star creator Kyle Killen will pen the pilot. The hourlong entry is set up at 20th Television, where Killen has a deal. This is his first foray at ABC, and follows short-lived critical darlings at Fox (Lone Star) and NBC (Awake).
Killen, who wrote the Mel Gibson/Jodie Foster film The Beaver, is repped by WME, Anonymous Content and Lichter Grossman.
The dramas become the network's sixth and seventh pickups this pilot season, joining a legal drama from House creator David Shore, among others.
