WGN America has handed out a straight-to-series order to drama Titans created by playwright Peter Mattei. The cable network is also eyeing a series greenlight for Underground, a pre-Civil War slave drama.
Titans and Underground both come from Sony Pictures Television and Tribune Studios, and will likely debut on the network in 2015. Although it's worth noting that while Underground has begun pre-production and opened up its writers' room, an official series order has not been announced.
Titans - which has received a 13 episode order - centers on the Farrell clan, a family of outsiders who have been in the hills of Appalachia since before anyone can remember. Living off the grid and above the law on their mountaintop homestead, they'll protect their world and defend their way of life using any means necessary.
Mattei created the drama and will executive produce alongside Peter Tolan, Paul Giamatti, Dan Carey and Michael Wimer. No plans are set for Giamatti to star on the series.
Underground follows the slaves who set foot on the fabled Underground Railroad, the secret network of men and women who risked their lives aiding them and the mercenaries tasked with hunting them down at any cost.
The drama was created by Misha Green and Joe Pokaski, who executive produce with Akiva Goldsman, Tory Tunnell and Joby Harold.
"These projects, each exploring a world we find to be unique and fascinating, continue our aggressive expansion into original scripted programming," said Matt Cherniss, President and General Manger of WGN America and Tribune Studios. "Everyone at WGN America is pleased to enter this next phase of our growth with Sony Pictures Television as an important partner on these projects, along with such talented creators and producers."
"WGN America has made a commitment to quality programming and we are happy that working together is a significant part of their growth strategy," said Zack Van Amburg, President of Programming and Production for Sony Pictures Television.
Added Jamie Erlicht, President of Programming and Production for Sony Pictures Television: "High-quality original series have consistently helped establish channel brands with the audience, and WGN appreciates and takes that value proposition seriously."
