NBC Orders J.J. Abrams Drama, Bill Lawrence Comedy to Pilot

1:33 PM PST 1/25/2013 by Lesley Goldberg

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"The Forgotten's" Mark Friedman will co-pen the script for Abrams' second network pilot order of the day.

Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

J.J. Abrams

J.J. Abrams is having a great week.

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A day after Disney tapped him to direct the next Star Wars movie and mere minutes after Fox picked up a buddy-cop drama from his Bad Robot shingle, the prolific writer-producer's NBC drama has been ordered to pilot.

Believe revolves around an unlikely relationship that develops between a young girl with a gift and a man sprung from prison who has been tasked with protecting her from the evil elements that hunt her power.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban's Alfonso Cuaron will pen the script alongside The Forgotten's Mark Friedman, with Abrams and Brian Burk producing the Warner Bros. Television entry via Bad Robot. The pilot order was expected as the drama already had begun exploring the casting process.

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In addition, the network has picked up comedy pilot from Cougar Town's Bill Lawrence and Adam Sztykiel (Due Date).

Undateable is a multicamera ensemble comedy revolving around a group of friends dubbed "the Undateables" whose lives are altered when a more confident character enters their world.

Sztykiel will pen the pilot and executive produce alongside Lawrence and Jeff Ingold via Doozer Productions and Warner Bros. Television.

This marks Lawrence's second pilot order this season, joining Fox's untitled Justin Halpern/Patrick Schumacker comedy.