Kerry Washington (Instagram)
Kerry Washington will produce her first TV series with home network ABC. The channel just bought the script for the actress’ new cop drama. Yet this isn’t an ordinary police show. The series will uniquely focus on female officers.
Variety reported “Patrol” centers on four Los Angeles Police Department members who attended police academy together five years earlier. But a haunting, traumatic secret reveal forces the women to reunite.
The upcoming workplace drama is the next show launched from Washington’s Simpson Street Productions. It follows HBO’s critically-acclaimed “Confirmation” in April.
Additionally, this is the first project under Washington’s contract with ABC Studios, which the company announced four months ago, according to Atlanta Black Star.
“It’s an honor to be at a point in my career when I can help generate projects that are exciting, necessary and truly reflect the world around us,” Washington said of the two-year deal. “I’m grateful to be on this journey with ABC, a network that remains unparalleled in its commitment to inclusive storytelling.”
The second-time expectant mother is not giving up work in front of the camera, however. Washington will continue appearing on the hit primetime show “Scandal” for the fourth consecutive year, having returned to work in July.
TVLine initially reported executives had to “make some adjustments” due to the star’s pregnancy. For the first time ever, the show will have a mid-season debut in 2017 instead of the standard fall premiere.
However, Washington told the Associated Press the show’s creator Shonda Rhimes already planned to air a truncated, 16-episode season.
“She knows about how many episodes she needs left to get there. And that was her decision,” the political thriller’s star told the AP of the cliffhanger closer.
Washington did not inform Rhimes about the baby news until two weeks after the season 6 premiere announcement.
