'Blind Side' Scribe Developing Crime Drama at ABC

ABC is having dreams of Walter Mitty.

The network has picked up a drama project from ABC Studios and The Blind Side writer John Lee Hancock that’s being described as a crime drama centering on a Walter Mitty-type lead.

Transofrmers producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Dan McDermott, his partner at their recently launched Di Bonaventura Pictures Television shingle, are on board as nonwriting executive producers.

The 1939 short story by James Thurber was adapted into a 1947 feature starring Danny Kaye as a daydreaming book editor, who imagines himself as living the an adventurous life in careers including a fighter pilot.

The project comes days after Di Bonaventura Pictures Television sold its first comedy projects – The Wonderful Women of Will’s World and Blondie & Clyde, to the network.

The duo previously sold drama Golden Gate to ABC with writer Michael Tolkin attached and are looking for more dramas and reality projects to add to their slate.

"Lorenzo and I both have substantial appetites and we’re going to do as much as we can do really well and with the enthusiasm and support of the network and studio," McDermott told THR last week.

Hancock picked up a best picture nomination for 2009’s The Blind Side, and wrote, directed and executive produced CBS’ Falcone and L.A. Doctors.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit