Deadline: 'NYPD Blue' Sequel in Development at ABC

[TMC]

https://deadline.com/2018/10/nypd-bl...ot-1202448390/

‘NYPD Blue’ Sequel With Andy Sipowicz’s Son Set At ABC From Matt
Olmstead, Nick Wootton & Jesse Bochco

by Nellie Andreeva
October 17, 2018 3:30pm

One of ABC’s signature dramas is staging a comeback. ABC has given a
pilot production commitment to NYPD Blue, a new iteration of the iconic
cop drama that will revolve around the son of Dennis Franz’s Detective
Andy Sipowicz character from the original series. The reboot hails from
NYPD Blue alums Matt Olmstead, Nick Wootton and Jesse Bochco. The pilot,
a co-production between 20th Century Fox TV, which was behind the
original series, and ABC Studios, is already casting its four main roles
of NYPD cops, led by Theo.

Unfortunately for all Andy Sipowitz fans, in the sequel his character is
dead. The return of NYPD Blue follows his son, Theo, as he tries to earn
his detective shield and work in the 15th squad while investigating his
father’s murder. Theo seems to have taken after his father as he too is
a hard-drinking, hard-headed and quick-witted cop.

By opting to have a link to the original series versus a straight-out
reboot with an all-new group of cops, the new NYPD Blue creates
opportunities for characters from the Emmy-winning drama to pop in.
Indeed, while there are no deals in place, I hear that the intention is
for original cast members to appear on the followup series. (Franz, who
won 3 Emmys for NYPD Blue, has largely retired from acting.)

The pilot script was written by Olmstead and Wootton. Bochco, son of
NYPD Blue co-creator Steven Bochco, who helmed 10 episodes of the
original series, is set to direct. All three executive produce, while
Steven Bochco’s widow, Dayna Bochco, will serve as a producer.

I hear the project got the blessing of the late Steven Bochco, who met
with Olmstead shortly before his death April 1.

Theo is Andy Sipowitz’s son with Assistant District Attorney Sylvia
Costas (Sharon Lawrence) who was tragically killed in Season 6, while
Theo was just a little boy. He was played on the show from Seasons 6-12
by child actor Austin Majors.

Created by Bochco and David Milch, NYPD Blue debuted in 1993 and ran for
12 seasons, setting a record for the longest-running drama series on
ABC, a mark only recently eclipsed by Grey’s Anatomy. It won 20 Emmy
Awards and earned 84 nominations over its run, including best drama
series, and was lauded for its realistic portrayal of cops’ lives.

NYPD Blue also pushed the boundaries of broadcast content with its
depiction of nudity and alcoholism, drawing an FCC fine over a racy 2003
scene featuring Charlotte Ross’ buttocks that was eventually struck down
by a court.

For Olmstead, this marks a return to the series that gave him his start.
As a young writer trying to get a staff writing job, he met with Bochco
who offered him to write for the ABC cop drama. Olmstead joined the show
as a writer in Season 6, steadily rising through the ranks to executive
producer in Seasons 10-12.

Wootton’s first association with Bochco came when he was just three
years old, because Wootton and Bochco’s kids attended the LA elementary
school that is now Crossroads. His first job was as a PA at age 14 on
LA Law, co-created by Bochco who became his mentor. Fresh out of
college, Wootton’s was an apprentice on the second season of NYPD Blue,
joined the staff and stayed for 12 years, also rising through the ranks
to executive producer in Seasons 10-12.

Olmstead, and Wottoon previously teamed with Bochco to co-create and
co-write the series Blind Justice and the pilot NYPD 2069. Olmstead and
Wottoon also worked on another cop drama co-created by Bochco, Brooklyn
South, and Wootton co-created with Bochco City of Angels.

As he started thinking about rebooting NYPD Blue under his overall deal
at ABC Studios, Olmstead met with Bochco, who gave them his blessing for
the project just four days before his death.

“Steven was just unflappable. All of the writers, he guarded us like we
were his kids,” Wootton said following Bochco’s passing. Added Olmstead,
“The man was a prince, a total gentleman and what he did was borderline
magical. Generous, kind and nurturing, beyond being wildly talented.
Just one of a kind.”

Wootton most recently served as executive producer of CBS/CBS TV
Studios’ drama series Scorpion for its four-season run. He became
available in May when the series was canceled. Olmstead was executive
producer/showrunner of NBC’s Chicago Fire. He also co-created and served
as executive producer/showrunner on its spinoff Chicago PD.
ABC

ABC successfully revived Roseanne last season before the series was
dramatically canceled following a racist tweet by star Roseanne Barr,
spawning a spinoff series, The Conners. For next season, the network
also has Bewitched and Designing Women reboots in development.

“I don’t necessarily want to dive into rebooting for the sake of
rebooting,” ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey told Deadline in
August. “I’m certainly open to a reboot if something comes to me with
the right creative or a spin on the creative that makes sense.”

Olmstead is repped by WME and Bloom Hergott. Wootton is repped by WME
and Hirsch Wallerstein.

[Mr. Television]

So Andy's dead?

[TMC]

Originally Posted by Mr. Television

So Andy's dead?

ABC working on an NYPD Blue sequel with Andy Sipowicz’s son that kills off Dennis Franz's character

Dayna Bochco, the widow of the late NYPD Blue co-creator Steven Bochco, and his son Jesse Bochco will serve as executive producers on the potential revival, which has received a sizable pilot-production commitment from ABC. The NYPD Blue sequel would revolve around Andy Sipowicz's son, Theo, as he tries to earn his detective shield and work in the 15th squad while investigating his father's murder. Former NYPD Blue writer Matt Olmstead, who co-created NBC's Chicago P.D. with Dick Wolf, will co-write the sequel series with fellow former NYPD Blue writer Nick Wootton. Dennis Franz played Sipowicz for NYPD Blue's entire 12-season run. Theo was born to Andy and love interest Sylvia (played by Sharon Lawrence) near the end of season three in 1996.