CBS developing TV adaptation of L.A. Confidential

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Here we go again. Several years after the success of L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, a TV pilot based upon the James Ellroy novel was developed which starred Kiefer Sutherland, Josh Hopkins, Melissa George, and Eric Roberts. The series wasn't picked up at the time, but now it appears that CBS will be the ones to give the project another shot.

Once again based on James Ellroy's classic novel, the potential L.A. Confidential series would follow the paths of "three homicide detectives, a female reporter, and a Hollywood actress as they intersect while the detectives pursue a sadistic serial killer through the seedy underbelly of 1950’s Los Angeles." Jordan Harper (The Mentalist, Gotham) is set to write and executive produce the project.

The 1997 film directed by the late Curtis Hanson starred Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, Kim Basinger, James Cromwell, Danny DeVito and went on to receive almost universal acclaim and was nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. A tough act to follow, particularly on TV, but with the right mix of 50's style and L.A. noir, it could capture something worthwhile. Or it could be an expensive mess cancelled after eight episodes. Shrug.