Taylor Hackford, 'Supernatural' EP Developing Navy Drama for CW (Exclusive)

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The CW is joining the Navy.

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The youth-skewing network is teaming with Oscar nominee Taylor Hackford and Supernatural executive producer Sera Gamble for Norfolk, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively.

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Gamble will write and executive produce the CBS Television Studios drama, which revolves around the lives and loves of the young people at the Norfolk Naval Station. Hackford, who earned directing and best picture Academy Award nominations for the 2004 Ray Charles biopic Ray, will exec produce and direct the project should it move to the pilot stage. Rizzoli & Isles' Bill Haber will exec produce the drama.

For Hackford, it marks the DGA president's latest small-screen endeavor since he exec produced and directed the pilot for NBC's 2005 military drama E-Ring.

Gamble, meanwhile, also has a medical drama set up at ABC this development season with Greg Berlanti and Melissa Kellner Berman attached to exec produce.

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The sale marks the latest high-profile pickup for The CW, which also is teaming with producers Mila Kunis, Reese Witherspoon, J.J. Abrams, Rob Thomas and Bret Easton Ellis for dramas this development season.

Hackford, whose credits also include An Officer and a Gentleman, The Devil's Advocate and an Oscar win for his 1978 live-action short Teenage Father, is repped by CAA and Stan Rosenfield. Gamble is with UTA and McKuin Frankel. Haber (Beauty and the Beast) is with CAA.

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