Columbia TriStar TV has inked a three-year, first-look deal with Paul Haggis, the Emmy Award-winning creator of “EZ Streets” and “Due South,” whose drama pilot “Family Law” was picked up by CBS on Wednesday.
Haggis is co-creator and writer of “Family Law,” and he plans to direct the one-hour pilot, which is about a successful family law attorney whose husband and law partner suddenly files for divorce and takes away most of her clients. Also writing, co-creating and co-executive producing is Anne Kenney (“L.A. Law,” “Michael Hayes”). Mark Harris is co-executive producing.
“It’s an ensemble with a strong female point of view,” Haggis said. “The office is sort of a dysfunctional family.”
Haggis said his idea for the series came from his own divorce, which has dragged out for the past seven or eight years, he said. “I can work out some of that here,” Haggis said, while stressing that “nothing (in the series) is based on my ex-wife.”
Popular on Variety
Haggis, who co-created the Eye web’s “Walker, Texas Ranger,” already had a prior multiple-series commitment from CBS, which has now been adopted by Columbia TriStar, where his deal is not exclusive.
In addition to the shows he has created, Haggis was executive producer of “Michael Hayes,” and he has written and produced for comedies and dramas including “thirtysomething,” “L.A. Law,” “The Tracey Ullman Show” and “The Facts of Life.”
Haggis deal was brokered by Mark Harris, Peter Dekom and Larry Becsey.
