This evening ABC has given series orders to four new dramas (The Crossing, For the People, The Good Doctor and The Gospel of Kevin) and two new comedies (The Mayor and Untitled Zach Braff).
THE CROSSING: Refugees from a war-torn country start showing up to seek asylum in an American town. Only the country these people are from is America and the war they are fleeing is 250 years in the future. The local sheriff with a past, a federal agent and a mother in search of her missing refugee daughter drive this allegory with a surprising conspiracy at the center.
The drama stars Sandrine Holt, Steve Zahn, Natalie Martinez, Rob Campbell, Jay Karnes, Grant Harvey, Tommy Bastow, John D'Leo, Kelley Missal, Marcuis W. Harris, Bailey Skodjoe, Rick Gomez and Luc Roderique.
Dan Dworkin and Jay Beattie wrote the pilot, which was directed by Rob Bowman. They executive produce with Rob Bowman. ABC Studios produces.
FOR THE PEOPLE: Set in the Southern District of New York (SDNY) Federal Court, aka "The Mother Court," the drama follows brand new lawyers working on opposite sides - for both the defense and the prosecution - as they handle the most high-profile and high-stakes cases in the country, all as their personal lives intersect.
The drama stars Hope Davis, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Britne Oldford, Regé-Jean Page, Ben Rappaport, Susannah Flood, Wesam Keesh, Lyndon Smith, Ben Shenkman and Anna Deavere Smith.
Paul William Davies wrote the pilot, which was directed by Tom Verica. They executive produce with Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers. ABC Studios and Shondaland produce.
THE GOOD DOCTOR: A young surgeon with Savant syndrome is recruited into the pediatric surgical unit of a prestigious hospital. The question will arise: can a person who doesn't have the ability to relate to people actually save their lives?
The drama stars Freddie Highmore, Antonia Thomas, Nicholas Gonzalez, Chuku Modu, Irene King, Beau Garrett, Hill Harper and Richard Schiff.
David Shore wrote the pilot, which was directed by Seth Gordon. They executive produce with Daniel Dae Kim, Sebastian Lee and David Kim. Eric Gunn and Lindsay Goffman are co-executive producers. Sony Pictures Television, Shore Z Productions and 3AD produce.
THE GOSPEL OF KEVIN: Kevin is a down-on-his-luck man who is tasked by God with a mission to save the world.
The comedic drama stars Jason Ritter, Cristela Alonzo, JoAnna Garcia Swisher, India de Beaufort, Dustin Ybarra, Chloe East and J. August Richards.
Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters wrote the pilot, which was directed by Paul McGuigan. ABC Studios and Fazekas & Butters produce.
THE MAYOR: An outspoken, idealistic rapper runs for office as a publicity stunt. When he actually gets elected, he surprises everyone (including himself) when he has a natural knack for the job and slowly transforms City Hall.
The comedy stars Brandon Michael Hall, Lea Michele, Bernard Jones, Marcel Spears, Yvette Nicole Brown and David Spade.
Jeremy Bronson wrote the pilot, which was directed by James Griffiths. They executive produce with Daveed Diggs, Jamie Tarses, Scott Stuber and Dylan Clark. ABC Studios and Bluegrass FanFare produce.
UNTITLED ZACH BRAFF COMEDY: Based on the podcast of the same name, Alex Schuman is an inquisitive journalist, husband and father who dives headfirst into the brave new world of entrepreneurship when he quits his stable job and starts his own business.
The comedy (formerly known as Start Up) stars Zach Braff, Tiya Sircar, Michael Imperioli, Hillary Anne Matthews, Elisha Heig, Audyssie James and Austin Pendleton.
Matt Tarses wrote the pilot, which was directed by Braff. They executive produce with John Davis, John Fox, Chris Gilberti, Alex Blumberg and Matt Lieber. Sony Pictures Television, Davis Entertainment and Gimlet Media produce.
