ABC ORDERS DAVID E. KELLEY MYSTERY DRAMA "AVALON" STRAIGHT TO SERIES

'Avalon' Will Join 2022-2023 Programming Slate

Based on a Short Story From Bestselling Author Michael Connelly ('The Lincoln Lawyer,' 'Bosch')

In a highly competitive situation, ABC Entertainment has given a straight-to-series order to the A+E Studios and 20th Television drama, "Avalon," from David E. Kelley ("Big Sky," "Big Little Lies") and bestselling author Michael Connelly ("The Lincoln Lawyer," "Bosch"). Based on a short story by Connelly, the series takes place in the main city of Avalon on Catalina Island, where LA Sheriff Department Detective Nicole "Nic" Searcy heads up a small office. Catalina has a local population that serves more than 1 million tourists a year, and each day when the ferries arrive, hundreds of potential new stories enter the island. Detective Searcy is pulled into a career-defining mystery that will challenge everything she knows about herself and the island. Kelley will write the pilot episode and the series will join ABC's 2022-2023 programming slate.

"David E. Kelley is one of the great storytellers of our time and we are excited to continue our successful relationship with him on what we believe will be his next epic series on ABC," said Craig Erwich, president, Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment. "Michael Connelly's short story is ripe with mystery and intrigue, and we can't wait for David and Michael to bring this eerie and captivating world to life."

"Excited to reunite with Michael Connelly," said David E. Kelley. "He's written a fantastic short story, a great protagonist. Can't wait to get started."

"Being on a project with David E. Kelley again is amazing," said Michael Connelly. "This whole team of David, A+E and Ross Fineman has been wonderful to work with previously; and now joining up with ABC, well, I can't wait to start. Catalina is full of mystery and good storytelling. We're going to put it on the screen."

"I read Michael Connelly's short story, moments after it was sent to me by Ross Fineman. The knowledge that David E. Kelley would be working with Michael to create 'Avalon' the series convinced me it would be a huge success," said Barry Jossen, president, and head of A+E Studios. "'Avalon' will be an exciting collaboration for A+E Studios, Fineman, ABC, 20th Television and two great generational talents - Kelley and Connelly."

Based on the short story by Michael Connelly, "Avalon" is created and executive produced by David E. Kelley and Connelly. Executive producers are Ross Fineman (Fineman Entertainment) and Barry Jossen & Tana Jamieson (A+E Studios). "Avalon" is produced by A+E Studios and 20th Television. A+E Studios is the award-winning studio unit of the global media company A+E Networks, LLC. 20th Television, one of the Disney Television Studios, has been a prolific supplier of creatively adventurous and award-winning content for more than seven decades.

About ABC Entertainment

ABC Entertainment's compelling programming includes "Grey's Anatomy," the longest-running medical drama in primetime television; ratings juggernaut "The Bachelor" franchise; riveting dramas "Big Sky," "The Good Doctor," "A Million Little Things," "Queens," "The Rookie" and "Station 19"; trailblazing comedies "Abbott Elementary," "black-ish," "The Conners," "The Goldbergs," "Home Economics" and "The Wonder Years," ABC's strongest comedy debut in two years; the popular Summer Fun & Games programming block, including "The $100,000 Pyramid," "Celebrity Family Feud" and "Press Your Luck"; star-making sensation "American Idol"; "Judge Steve Harvey," the network's strongest unscripted series debut in a year; reality phenomenon "Shark Tank"; family favorites "America's Funniest Home Videos," "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune," "The Chase," "Dancing with the Stars," "Holey Moley" and "To Tell the Truth"; "General Hospital," which has aired for more than 55 years on the network; and late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"; as well as the critically acclaimed, Emmy(R) Award-winning "Live in Front of a Studio Audience" specials. The network also boasts some of television's most prestigious awards shows, including "The Oscars(R)," "The CMA Awards" and the "American Music Awards." ABC programming can also be viewed on demand and on Hulu.

About A+E Studios

Launched in 2013, A+E Studios is the award-winning studio unit of the global media company A+E Networks, LLC. A+E Studios is an industry leader in the creation, production, and distribution of high-quality scripted entertainment across all linear and non-linear platforms. A+E Studios serves as a primary scripted programming supplier for the A+E Networks portfolio. A+E Studio's slate of programming consists of scripted series, event series, and movies. A+E Studios produced titles include the hit drama series "Big Sky" from David E. Kelley for ABC, Peabody Award-winning "UnREAL," "Project Blue Book" and the Emmy-nominated event miniseries "Roots" for The HISTORY Channel, the animated drama series "The Liberator" for Netflix, the drama series "Reprisal" from Warren Littlefield for Hulu, as well as "YOU" from Berlanti Productions and Alloy Entertainment with Warner Horizon Scripted Television for Netflix. Upcoming projects from A+E Studios include the drama series "The Lincoln Lawyer" from David E. Kelley for Netflix based on the popular novels by Michael Connelly and "Flowers in the Attic: The Origin" miniseries for Lifetime based on the work of author V.C. Andrews. A+E Studios currently has over seventy projects in active development at Netflix, Showtime, Peacock, HBO Max, AMC, FOX, and multiple international platforms as part of its locally originated programming strategy. Its first local-language production, supernatural thriller "The Malevolent Bride" from "Our Boys creator Noah Stollman, will air in 2022 exclusively on KAN 11, Israel's Public Broadcaster. A+E Studios also acquired the exclusive rights to bestselling author Sue Grafton's acclaimed Alphabet Mystery book series.

About 20th Television

One of the Disney Television Studios, 20th Television is a prolific supplier of entertainment programming, including Hulu's upcoming THE DROPOUT from Elizabeth Meriwether and starring Amanda Seyfried; its most watched comedy ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING from Dan Fogelman, John Hoffman and Steve Martin and its critically acclaimed drama DOPESICK from Danny Strong and starring Michael Keaton; ABC's new comedy hit THE WONDER YEARS from Saladin Patterson and Fred Savage; FX's star-studded IMPEACHMENT: AMERICAN CRIME STORY from Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson and Sarah Burgess; NBC's top series THIS IS US from Dan Fogelman; Fox's No. 1 drama, 9-1-1 and its spinoff 9-1-1: LONE STAR from Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear; FX's No. 1 series AMERICAN HORROR STORY from Ryan Murphy, in addition to dozens of others. 20th Television shows have amassed a collective 1867 Emmy nominations and 214 Emmy wins, as well as multiple Golden Globes, Humanitas Prizes and Peabody Awards. The studio's landmark series from its 70 year library include such classics as BATMAN, MODERN FAMILY, M*A*S*H, GLEE, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, BONES, EMPIRE, FRESH OFF THE BOAT, 24, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, NEW GIRL and THE X-FILES.