Back in 1995, Wolfgang Petersen directed Outbreak, starring Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo and Morgan Freeman as a team of scientists attempting to cure an Ebola-like virus that sweeps across a small town before it became a nationwide epidemic. 18 years later, Outbreak may be coming to TV.
Deadline is reporting that NBC has given a pilot commitment to a new adaptation of “Outbreak” from former “ER” executive producers John Wells and Jack Orman. Wells and Orman wrote the new “Outbreak” pilot; which is described as “a medical thriller that follows an ensemble of characters as they race to contain a lethal virus before it becomes a global pandemic.”
In addition to his long run on “ER,” Wells also had stints on “China Beach,” Third Watch,” “Southland’ and “The West Wing.” More recently, Wells has produced the Showtime series “Shameless,” an adaptation of a British original series that is heading into its fourth season next year.
The potential “Outbreak” TV series is being produced by Warner Bros. TV. Interestingly enough, NBC’s sister network, Syfy has a similarly themed show called “Helix” premiering in early 2014. However, “Helix” appears to have more fantastical elements than the new “Outbreak.”
If “Outbreak” goes to series, it would likely debut on NBC during the 2014 TV season.
