Originally slated to be a feature film helmed by Jonathan Demme before he dropped out, the J.J. Abrams-produced event series based on Stephen King‘s "11/22/63" now has a home at Hulu. Bridget Carpenter ("The Red Road") adapted the book, and the show will run nine episodes (though the door is being left open for more seasons) that follow "Jake, an unassuming divorced English teacher who stumbles upon a time portal that leads to 9/9/1958 and goes on a quest to try and prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy, which occurred on November 22, 1963. But his mission is threatened by Lee Harvey Oswald, his falling in love and the past itself … which doesn’t want to be changed." Uh, yeah, this is pretty "high concept." No word yet on who will direct. [Deadline]
Continuing the trend of movies being the springboard to new shows, Jim Sheridan‘s "In America" has become the unlikely foundation of a new HBO series. Sheridan, along with daughters Naomi and Kristen, will develop the show based on his acclaimed 2002 film about an Irish immigrant family struggling to make it in Hell’s Kitchen. It’s actually very easy to see how this could transition to a weekly show, so we’re curious to see if this will get the green light. [Deadline]
Speaking of movies-to-TV-shows, "Problem Child"—the 1990 hit comedy starring John Ritter that spawned two sequels (geez)—is now going to be an NBC comedy. "The Hangover" writer Scot Armstrong is behind this thing, which seems rich with the narrative possibilities. [Deadline]
At one point a few years ago, Mark Wahlberg was looking to turn the documentary "Cocaine Cowboys" into a feature film, possibly directed by David O. Russell. That didn’t happen. Now the project is in the hands of Michael Bay and Jerry Bruckheimer, and they’ve brought it to TNT to turn into TV series, and for now it’s being called—wait for it—"Untitled Cocaine Project." What’s it about? Well: “A serialized character drama that brings the audience into the captivating, wild and unpredictable world of the Florida drug trade in the 1970s.” Michelle Ashford of "Masters of Sex" fame wrote the pilot and this is now our most anticipated show ever. [EW]