ABC is developing a drama series based on the true story of a high school club that solved real cold cases.
Variety has learned that the broadcast network is currently at work on “Killer Class,” based on Keith Sharon’s article of the same name from The Tennesseean about a group of students and their teacher from Elizabethton High School.
The official logline states the show “tracks the unexpected formation of a HS Forensics Club that proves shockingly effective at solving real cold cases.”
Steven Lilien, Bryan Wynbrandt, and Joe Webb serve as co-creators and executive producers on the series, with Lilien and Wynbrandt set to serve as showrunners as well. Ken Kwapis of In Cahoots will executive produce and direct, with Alex Beattie of In Cahoots executive producing and Reynolds Anderson of In Cahoots co-executive producing. Rachel Kaplan (“La Brea,” “Our Boys”) of Absecon Entertainment will also executive produce. 20th Television is the studio. Kwapis and Absecon developed the one-hour project and sold it to ABC.
“The fact that these kids and their teacher were able to solve cases that had been cold for decades blew me away. I thought: ‘Breakfast Club meets true crime,’” Kwapis said.
Lilien and Wynbrandt most recently developed the NBC reboot of “Quantum Leap” and previously created the CBS series “God Friended Me.” Their other TV credits include “La Brea,” “Alcatraz,” and “I Will Find You.”
Kwapis has been nominated for two Emmy Awards for directing — one for “Malcolm in the Middle” and another for “The Office.” He recently returned to work on the revival of “Malcolm in the Middle” currently in the works at Disney+. He has also helmed episodes of shows like “The Larry Sanders Show,” “The Bernie Mac Show,” and “The Office.” Kwapis’ film credits include “A Walk in the Woods,” “He’s Just Not That Into You,” and “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.”
Lilien and Wynbrandt are repped by CAA, Range Media Partners, and Todd Rubenstein. Kwapis is repped by Code Entertainment and UTA. Webb is repped by WME, BE Management, and Lichter Grossman. Kaplan is repped by attorney Patti Felker
(Pictured, left to right: Steven Lilien, Bryan Wynbrandt, Joe Webb, Ken Kwapis)