TV

The Peacock orders a pilot to the re-imagining of the mystery drama series with the 'Help' actress succeeding Angela Lansbury in the lead role.

Oct 25, 2013

AceShowbiz - NBC is reviving "Murder, She Wrote", one of the most successful and longest-running television shows in history. The network has ordered a pilot to the remake project which has Octavia Spencer in the lead role as an astute amateur detective. Angela Lansbury played the character on the original series.

According to Deadline, the hour-long show is developed "as a light, contemporary procedural in the vein of 'Bones' or 'Fargo'." The story "follows a hospital administrator and amateur sleuth (Spencer) who self-publishes her first mystery novel. Set in a day where sensational headlines inundate the news, this woman's avid fascination with true crime leads her to become an active participant in the investigations."

Former "Desperate Housewives" executive producer Alexandra Cunningham is on board to write the script in addition to teaming up with David Janollari to executive produce the drama. Lansbury is reportedly approached to get involved in the project.

Spencer, who won an Oscar and an Academy Award besides other awards for her role in 2011's movie "The Help", has landed some guest-starring roles on TV series such as "Malcolm in the Middle", "Ugly Betty", "Dollhouse", "30 Rock" and most recently "Mom". The "Murder, She Wrote" gig, however, will be her first series regular role.