Kelsey Grammer is returning to TV — via Starz.
In his first cable outing, the erstwhile Frasier Crane will headline a project written by Apocalypto co-writer Farhad Safinia with a pilot directed by Gus Van Sant, who will also executive produce.
Deadline reports that the 8-episode straight-to-series drama, Boss, was the subject of a bidding war and will be produced by Lionsgate Televsion. Grammer will star as the mayor of Chicago who is diagnosed with a degenerative mental condition that only he and his doctor know about.
Per Deadline, the series is described as a King Lear-inspired tale of power set in Chicago’s political machine.
Grammer will executive produce with his new Grammnet Prods partner Brian Sher, along with Van Sant and Stella Stolper.
Van Sant came aboard via WME, which repped all parties.
Boss started being shopped two weeks ago with strong interest coming from several cable networks, says Deadline.
Grammer recently relaunched Grammnet in partnership with former ICM agent Sher to develop scripted and non-scripted shows.
Production on Boss will begin in the spring, according to Variety, with producers eyeing Chicago as a location.
Source: Hollywood Wiretap
