Gail Berman Headshot - P 2014
Courtesy of FOXFormer Fox Broadcasting entertainment president Gail Berman has set up her first project with new banner The Jackal Group.
The joint venture with Fox Network Groups will team with Oscar and Golden Globe nominee Robert Rodat to develop newspaper drama Park Row, the company announced Friday.
Read more Gail Berman Returns to Fox for New Joint Venture
Set in the world of yellow journalism in New York in the 1890s, Park Row follows the newspaper circulation wars between the two most powerful media titans of the day — Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst. The show moves from Gilded Age palaces and yachts to filthy streets and dark alleys. It follows Pulitzer, Hearst, their families, mistresses, friends, enemies and reporters who, with the modern media weapons of sensationalism, spectacle and self-promotion, chronicled the sex, violence, brutality and corruption of the day, selling a lot of newspapers and making a lot of money.
The drama, based on true events, will be executive produced by Jackal Group chairman and CEO Berman and Rodat.
“As is often the case, true life events make for great drama. The legendary rivalry between Hearst and Pulitzer offers a broad and rich canvas from which to create an engaging, entertaining and impactful television series,” Berman said. “Robert is a master of storytelling and capturing gripping human drama, and to have such a talented and accomplished screenwriter at the helm truly elevates this project.”
Rodat’s credits include Saving Private Ryan, The Patriot and more. He received a co-story credit on Thor: The Dark World and created TNT’s long-running sci-fi drama Falling Skies. He’s represented by Gersh and Stankevich-Gochman.
Email: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
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