Milo Ventimiglia to Star in Cop Drama Pilot ‘American Blue’ at HBO Max
Milo Ventimiglia has been cast as the star of “American Blue,” a police drama pilot at HBO Max. In addition, David Ayer has joined the project as director.
The official logline reads: “Native son Brian ‘Milk’ Milkovich (Ventimiglia) returns to his hometown of Joliet, Illinois, to save a beleaguered police force while seeking redemption from his own country.” Milk is described as “a quietly determined, born leader who hopes to find a second chance in the place he left behind.”
Ventimiglia is best known for playing Jack Pearson on “This Is Us,” which ran for six seasons on NBC from 2016 to 2022. He is repped by WME, Entertainment 360, Vision PR and McKuin Frankel Whitehead. Ayer, who directed such films as “Suicide Squad” (2016) and “Fury” (2014), is repped by WME and David Weber and Tom Collier at Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern, LLP.
The one-hour drama “American Blue” is written by Jeremy Carver, who serves as executive producer alongside Brian Udovich and Neil Reynolds. Ventimiglia serves as co-executive producer and his production partner Russ Cundiff serves as producer. Warner Bros. Television, where Carver has an overall deal, is the studio.
“’American Blue’ immerses audiences in a raw and authentic police drama that reflects the myriad challenges in policing today,” Sarah Aubrey, HBO Max’s head of original programming, said in a statement. “Like ‘The Pitt,’ our goal of longer seasons will allow viewers to sink deep into this world over multiple episodes and return to it annually. We can’t wait for Jeremy Carver’s vision for ‘American Blue’ to come to life with Milo Ventimiglia in the lead role and David Ayer directing our pilot.”
“We are thrilled to have Milo and David join ‘American Blue,’” said Clancy Collins White, president of creative affairs at Warner Bros. Television. “Milo’s dynamic screen presence and David’s keen eye are a perfect fit for the complex, character-driven drama Jeremy created. We look forward to seeing how this trio brings Milk’s journey to life.”
Deadline was the first to report the news.
