TNT orders Darabont pilot 'L.A. Noir'

ATLANTA, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. cable network TNT said it has ordered a pilot for a new mob drama series called "L.A. Noir" from former "Walking Dead" show-runner Frank Darabont.

Set in Los Angeles in the 1940s and '50s, the series is based on John Buntin's book "L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America's Most Seductive City." It chronicles the real-life battle between Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker and mobster Mickey Cohen.

Executive producer Darabont is set to write and direct the pilot. Michael De Luca and Elliot Webb also are executive producers on the series.

"The story of 'L.A. Noir' is inspired by an incredibly dramatic period in the history of Los Angeles," Michael Wright, executive vice president and head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies, said in a statement Monday. "This project is a sweeping tale of the battle for the soul of the city that was waged between the forces of the LAPD and the West Coast mob. We're thrilled to be working with Frank Darabont and Michael De Luca, two award-winning storytellers behind some of the most entertaining films of the past two decades, as they bring this intense and exciting crime drama to TNT."

"Noir is a passion of mine, so I feel blessed to delve into a project that speaks in the hard-boiled vernacular," Darabont said. "John Buntin's superb book, though non-fiction, is our touchstone and inspiration for the stories we'll be telling, weaving fiction throughout the facts and facts throughout the fiction. The book provides elements that are irresistible, a big canvas with endless possibilities. The goal is to deliver on the tone that the title 'L.A. Noir' promises: a smart, gritty, authentic, period noir drama. Also a blessing is the warm welcome we've gotten from Michael Wright and TNT, a great bunch of folks with huge enthusiasm for the source material. The best bonus of all is getting to work with my friend Mike De Luca. He's terrific, a tremendously smart and talented producer, a gem. Partnering with him on this marvelous project after knowing him for so many years is an absolute treat for me."