Paramount Network has ordered a new series called “Coyote,” a border patrol drama from “Breaking Bad” alum Michelle MacLaren that will star Michael Chiklis.
“Coyote” is the story of Ben Clemens (Chiklis), who after 32 years as a border patrol agent, is forced to work for the very people he spent his career trying to keep out of America. Now exposed to life on the other side of the wall, Ben will start to question his black and white views of the world, challenging his ideology and his loyalties.
The 10-episode first season will debut in 2020.
David Graziano will serve as showrunner. MacLaren will direct the pilot and serve as an executive producer. Graziano, Michael Carnes and Josh Gilbert are attached to write and executive produce. Dark Horse Entertainment’s Mike Richardson and Keith Goldberg are executive producers. Rebecca Hobbs of MacLaren Entertainment is an executive producer.
Chiklis is also an executive producer on the series. The series is set up at MacLaren Entertainment, Dark Horse and Sony Pictures Television. MacLaren is a former executive producer for “Breaking Bad” and directed some of the most popular episodes in the series and helmed four episodes of “Game of Thrones.” She is set to direct the film “Cowboy Ninja Viking” with Chris Pratt and Priyanka Chopra.
“David Graziano, our whole creative team, and I are excited to make a show with Paramount Network and Sony that will dramatize a conversation between Mexico and America,” said MacLaren. “I have wanted to work with Michael Chiklis for a long time and am thrilled he is playing such a complex character whose journey will expose multiple points of view on this relevant and complicated issue.”
Chiklis is best known for his starring role as Vic Mackey on FX’s crime drama “The Shield,” and more recently he had a recurring role on Fox’s Batman villain spinoff “Gotham.”