ABC Orders Poppy Montgomery Series ‘Reef Break’ for Summer 2019

ABC has yet to close the books on its summer 2018 slate but is already preparing for summer 2019. 

The network has given a straight-to-series, 13-episode order for a crime drama called Reef Break, starring and executive produced by Poppy Montgomery (Unforgettable, Without a Trace). The show is based on her idea; Ken Sanzel (Numb3rs) will write the series and serve as showrunner.

ABC Studios and ABC Studios International will produce the project in partnership with French broadcaster M6, which will air the show in France.

“We’re thrilled to add this new series fronted by Poppy Montgomery to our summer 2019 slate,” ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey said Thursday in a statement. “It’s an exhilarating and suspenseful ride set against some of the most beautiful locations.”

Reef Break stars Montgomery as Cat Chambers, a former thief turned fixer for the governor of a Pacific island paradise. The “impulsive, reckless and irresistible” Cat has an instinctive gift for understanding criminals, thanks to her own past, and uses that instinct to help solve problems on the island. The characters around Cat include her FBI agent ex-husband, an imprisoned crime boss who has history with her and a detective/lover who is in over his head.

“ABC Studios International is very excited to be in business with Poppy Montgomery and Ken Sanzel, the dream team behind this fantastic new series,” said Keli Lee, managing director for international content, platforms and talent at ABC Studios International. “We anticipate a series that will engage audiences around the world, and are thrilled to work with our partners, M6 and ABC Network, on this truly global initiative.”

ABC has already renewed the game shows Celebrity Family Feud, The $100,000 Pyramid and To Tell the Truth for summer 2019. It has yet to make a decision on Take Two, the lone scripted original airing on the network this summer.

Montgomery is repped by ICM Partners and Framework Entertainment. Sanzel is repped by ICM Partners, Field Entertainment and Hirsch, Wallerstein.