'Shield' Scribe Sells ATF Drama to ABC (Exclusive)

John Hlavin

A year after selling a Wyatt Earp drama to Fox, The Shield scribe John Hlavin is turning his focus to a more modern story.

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The writer has sold Shelter, a modern crime drama about an ATF Agent whose real working-class Chicago life collides with his flashy Los Angeles cover when his wife is exposed to his criminal world, trapping them both undercover.

Hlavin will pen the ABC Studios project with Cold Case consulting producer Mark Pellington on board to executive produce alongside The Goode Family's Tom Lassally for 3 Arts.

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The project continues ABC's relationship with Pellington, who directed the pilot for the network's midseason Radha Mitchell drama Red Widow.

Hlavin last year teamed with Fringe's Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci for a Wyatt Earp drama chronicling the well-known incidents in his life including the Gunfight at the OK Corral. The project was set up at 20th for Fox, but did not move forward.

For his part, Lassally is also producing the Tom Cruise feature All You Need Is Kill with Erwin Stoff.

Hlavin, whose TV credits include Trust Me, Daybreak and E-Ring, is repped by UTA, 3 Arts and Jackoway Tyerman. Pellington is also with UTA and 3 Arts.

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