When news that an adaptation of “Election” and “Little Children” author Tom Perotta‘s book “The Leftovers” would be hitting TV screens, it was also accompanied by a foreseeable showrunner: “Lost” co-creator Damon Lindelof. Acclimated to high-concept central mysteries for his entire career, he’s now picked his return from film to TV, and it seems he’s brought some notable company along for the ride.
HBO first picked up the drama series in February and have now announced that “Friday Night Lights” director Peter Berg will helm the pilot episode. The show focuses on the town of Mapleton, where the population attempts to survive after hundreds of their neighbors disappear to an unknown, mysterious location. Clearly perfect material for Lindelof (who will be writing as well with Perotta), but the move marks an interesting turn for Berg, whose only experience with genre twists comes from “Hancock” — not exactly the centerpiece of the man’s career. But with a June start date quickly approaching, we’ll find out how he well he’s suited to the intriguing task.
Another director in the midst of a film-to-TV transition: Olivier Megaton, last seen directing Liam Neeson toward a paycheck in “Taken 2,” has signed on to direct the action-dramedy series, “Brooklyn South,” for Luc Besson‘s EuropaCorp company. Exec-produced and penned by “Brothers and Sisters” showrunner Stephen Tolkien, the New York-set series is inspired by Besson’s hugely successful “Taxi” trilogy and will follow a female NYPD detective who teams up with a street-wise French cab driver to take down crime. If you thought Besson’s concept had legs outside of the horrid Jimmy Fallon/Queen Latifah remake, get ready — the new series shoots in New York this fall. [Collider/Variety]