ABC is getting deeper into the Shonda Rhimes business.
The network ordered the drama “The Catch,” from “Grey’s Anatomy” honcho Rhimes and Betsy Beers, to series along with five other dramas on Thursday.
Also among the series orders: A thus-untitled drama starring Don Johnson and “Gossip Girl” alum Chace Crawford.
“The Catch” is described as a thriller that’s centered on strong, successful Alice Martin (played by Mireille Enos). Ironically however, Martin, a fraud investigator, is about to be the victim of fraud by her fiancé. Between her cases, she is determined to find him before it ruins her career.
In addition to Enos, it stars Alimi Ballard, Damon Dayoub, Jay Hayden, Jacky Ido, Bethany Joy Lenz, Rose Rollins and Elvy Yost.
Jennifer Schuur is serving as writer and executive producer, with Rhimes, Beers and Julie Anne Robinson. ABC Studios is producing.
Meanwhile, Johnson and Crawford will star in an untitled drama, formerly known as “Boom,” about Billy and Cody Lefever, who dream of a new life beyond their working class roots and move to “The Bakken” in North Dakota, which is booming after the biggest oil discovery in American history. They’re soon pitted against a ruthless tycoon who forces them to bet big and put everything on the line, including their marriage.
Rebecca Rittenhouse, Delroy Lindo, Amber Valetta, Scott Michael Foster, India De Beaufort, Yani Gellman and Caitlin Carver fill out the cast of the ABC Signature-produced drama, which is written by Josh Pate and Rodes Fishburne. Fishburne and Pate are also executive producing, along with Tony Krantz, Johnson and Drew Comins.
The network also gave series orders to “Of Kings and Prophets,” an epic Biblical saga starring Ray Winstone; “Quantico,” a drama from Josh Safran, Mark Gordon and Nick Pepper about a diverse group of recruits have arrived at the FBI’s Quantico Base for training; and “The Family,” a thriller starring Joan Allen that follow the return of a politician’s young son who was presumed dead after disappearing over a decade earlier.
Finally, ABC has also given an order to “Wicked City.” Starring Adam Rothenberg, Ed Westwick and Taissa Farmiga, the series will follow a different case set in a different noteworthy era of LA history each season, starting with a murder case from 1982 centered on the rock and roll, cocaine-infused revelry of the Sunset Strip. Alliances are formed between detectives, reporters, drug dealers and club-goers to solve a serial murder case.
“The Family” is written by Jenna Bans (“Grey’s Anatomy”), who also executive produces with Todd Lieberman, David Hoberman and Laurie Zaks.
“Wicked City is written by Steven Baigelman (“Get on Up”). Baigelman, Todd Lieberman, David Hoberman and Laurie Zaks are executive producing the drama, which is an ABC Studios production.