hbo HBO changes mind and DOES pick up new James Gandolfini drama

[V-Tech]

HBO decided to pass on James Gandolfini's new drama project, Crimal Justice, a few months ago.

Well, things change and today the network said it was going to go ahead with the adaptation of Peter Moffat's 2008 BBC crime drama. Seven hour-long episodes were ordered and the network intends to air it as a limited series.

Part of the change of opinion may have been the fact that the project was gaining good word of mouth and that rival networks had been circling it in the water.

The show will be set in New York and feature the former Tony Soprano as Jack Stone, a jailhouse attorney who trolls police stations looking for new clients. Riz Ahmed (Naz, a Pakistani-American), Bill Camp (Box), Payman Maadi (Salim Kahn) and Poorna Jagannathan (Safar Kahn) will also star.

This series will follow the first series of the BBC's version, which starred Ben Whishaw as Ben, who ended up charged with the murder of a lady he had only recently met.

BBC Worldwide Productions is producing the series with HBO.

Richard Price will be writing the series, with Steven Zaillian attached to direct and executive produce. Other executive producers include Gandolfini, Moffat, Jane Tranter, Mark Armstrong and Nancy Sanders.

http://www.tvrage.com/news/6617/hbo-changes-mind-and-does-pick-up-new-james-gandolfini-drama