According to a report at The Futon Critic, NBC is rumored to be close to giving drama pilots Heroes and Friday Night Lights series orders, as reports indicate that both series have begun staffing. Heroes is a supernatural serialized drama in the vein of Lost about a group of everyday people who suddenly find themselves imbued with extraordinary powers. The project, from NBC Universal Television, was created by Tim Kring (Crossing Jordan), who wrote the two-hour pilot, which was directed by David Semel (House), who also exec produces along with Dennis Hammer. Alias' Jesse Alexander was also recently named a co-executive producer.
The show's sprawling ensemble includes Greg Grunberg (Alias), Milo Ventimiglia (Gilmore Girls), Ali Larter (Final Destination), Hayden Panettiere (The Book of Daniel), Leonard Roberts (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), and Adrian Pasdar (Desperate Housewives), among others.
Jason Katims (Pepper Dennis) has been hired to serve as the showrunner on NBC's other buzzworthy pilot Friday Night Lights, which is also expected to receive an official pickup before the NBC upfronts on Monday. The NBC Universal TV project (from Imagine Television and Film 44), is based on the feature film and book of the same title. Executive producers are Katims, Brian Grazer, David Nevins, John Cameron, Sarah Aubrey, and creator Peter Berg.
The cast of Friday Night Lights will include Kyle Chandler (Grey's Anatomy), Adrianne Palicki (South Beach), Aimee Teegarden (Cold Case), Connie Britton (24), Jesse Plemons (Grey's Anatomy), Minka Kelly (What I Like About You), and Zach Gilford (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit).
In other NBC scheduling news, the Peacock is considering relocating stalwart medical drama ER from its longtime berth to another timeslot, possibly Tuesdays at 9 or 10 pm, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
The reason? Possibly to give its once-prime Thursdays at 10 pm timeslot to the freshman dramedy series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, from Aaron Sorkin. NBC declined to comment; a final decision will be announced at the network's upfront presentation on Monday.
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