FX has ordered the Middle Eastern drama pilot "Tyrant" from "Homeland" producers Howard Gordon and Gideon Raff, as well as "Six Feet Under" and "Lost" producer Craig Wright.
The pilot follows an American family drawn into the troubles of a turbulent Middle Eastern nation. The series, written and created by Raff, was developed by Gordon and Wright. The pilot comes from Gordon's shingle at 20th Century Fox Television, Teakwood Lane.
Gordon, Raff and Wright are executive producers in association with Keshet Broadcasting. If "Tyrant" becomes a series, Wright will serve as showrunner.
"We are thrilled to bring 'Tyrant' to FX,” said Nick Grad, FX's executive vice president of original programming. "The brilliant and wholly original concept just blew us all away. It’s pretty amazing when you read a script and can instantly imagine it becoming one of the best shows on television. We’re grateful to the producers for choosing to bring it to FX and look forward to continuing our partnership with our friends at Fox 21.”
"'Tyrant' is exactly the type of project we aim to do at Fox 21 — working with extremely talented writer/creators to create provocative material with big, breakout characters and themes," said Bert Salke, president of Fox 21. "This script has excited everyone who’s read it and it’s particularly gratifying to be back working with FX, with whom we have had such a successful partnership on the fantastic 'Sons of Anarchy.'"
Production is tentatively slated to begin in the spring.
