ABC is developing a new drama with one of the networks most trusted stars, Kerry Washington.
Variety has exclusively learned that the “Scandal” star is on board to executive produce “Patrol,” a workplace drama about four female LAPD officers who attended the police academy together five years ago and are forced to reconnect after a high-stakes, traumatic secret returns to haunt them.
The project marks the first to fall under Washington’s new overall deal with ABC, which she inked this April to develop new projects for ABC Studios — the studio behind “Patrol.”
Washington is producing the potential series by way of her recently-launched production shingle Simpson Street. The actress has been expanding her behind-the-camera work lately. Simpson Street came fresh out of the gate with HBO’s “Confirmation,” in which Washington starred as Anita Hill, marking the company’s first project.
Chitra Elizabeth Sampath, who served as a writer/producer on the first season of ABC’s “Secrets and Lies,” penned the “Patrol” script and will serve as a co-executive producer. Along with Washington, executive producers are Groundswell Productions’ Michael London and Janice Williams, plus Washington’s Simpson Street producing partner Sharla Sumpter Bridgett.
Washington has starred as Olivia Pope on ABC’s “Scandal” since the hit drama debuted in 2012. The show, which usually premieres in the fall, is pushed to midseason for the 2016-17 season, due to Washington’s pregnancy.
Washington is repped by CAA.
Elizabeth Wagmeister
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