In a competitive situation, NBC has landed The Last Policeman, an adaptation of Ben H. Winters’ sci-fi mystery novel, with a put pilot commitment. Neal Moritz (Preacher) is producing. Sony TV, where Moritz’s Original Films is under an overall deal, is the studio.

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Winters will pen the series adaptation, which follows a detective in New Hampshire during the final years of civilization as a catastrophe-level asteroid hurtles toward the planet. Despite the social, political and economic effects of preparing for impact, he keeps his head down and hope alive by solving cases amidst the ever-increasing chaos.

Winters executive produces with Moritz and Pavun Shetty, head of Original’s TV division.

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Winters is the author of nine novels, most recently the best-selling Underground Airlines, which he is adapting for Legendary with The Gotham Group and Warren Littlefield producing. The Last Policeman, which launched a book trilogy, won the 2012 Edgar Award the Philip K. Dick Award for Distinguished Science Fiction.

Upon the book’s release in 2012, it was acquired by Lorenzo di Bonaventura with the intention of turning it into a TV series.

The project mixes the two drama components that the broadcast networks have been pursuing heavily this buying season: procedurals and big ideas.

In addition to The Last Policeman, and Underground Airlines, Winters also sold his spec The Innocent Man to Universal TV with Will Packer producing.

NBC

In addition to Preacher, which has been renewed for a second season by AMC, through the Sony TV overall deal Moritz is executive producing sci-fi drama pilot Roadside Picnic pilot for WGN America; Happy! pilot at Syfy; and Cruel Intentions, which remains in contention at NBC. He also has The Boys based on the graphic novel in development at Cinemax with Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and Erik Kripke.

Winters is repped by UTA, the Gotham Group, Joelle Delbourgo Associates and attorney Bruce Gellman. Moritz is repped by UTA and attorney Howard Abramson.