‘Selma’ Director Ava DuVernay Tapped for CBS Pilot ‘For Justice’

Drama project counts Robert De Niro among its executive producers

Photo: Brigitte Lacombe

CBS has nabbed up a big name to direct its drama pilot “For Justice,” tapping “Selma” director Ava DuVernay to handle behind-the-camera duties.

The pilot, written and executive produced by Rene Balcer (“Law & Order”), follows an FBI agent who works in the Criminal Section of the Department of Civil Rights Division who finds herself caught between the radical family she was born into and the professional family she has chosen.

DuVernay will also serve as an executive producer on the project.

“For Justice,” which is being produced by CBS Television Studios, is based on the James Patterson novel “The Thomas Berryman Number.”

Patterson is also executive producing, along with Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, Bill Robinson and Leopoldo Gout. Berry Welsh is co-executive producing.

Bill Douglass, Mark Ross, Rand Holston and Ben Weiss of Paradigm, and Nina Shaw and Gordon Bobb of Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein & Lezcano represent DuVernay.

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