DVDizzy Forum

Prolific TV pilot director James Griffiths has been tapped to direct and executive produce ABC’s fairytale drama pilot Epic, from Once Upon a Time creators Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis and ABC Signature. Shooting is currently underway in Ireland.

Three high-profile drama pilots, the fairytale-themed Epic, executive produced by Once Upon a Time creators Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis, Promised Land and Dark Horse are on a different track and will be filmed for post-upfront consideration, likely for midseason.

Epic and Promised Land, whose final cuts are still being locked in, remain in consideration for midseason. They come from ABC Signature, has options on the casts until September I hear.,The fairytale-themed Epic, executive produced by Once Upon a Time creators Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis, and the sprawling multi-generational Latino family drama Promised Land have been receiving encouraging early feedback.

Epic, which marks the return to ABC for Once Upon a Time creators Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, was picked up to pilot in January and has been casting. The fairy tale anthology stars Brittany O’Grady and Modern Family‘s Sarah Hyland and is produced in-house at ABC Signature, where Kitsis and Horowitz are under an overall deal. Both Epic and Promised Land were ordered to pilot under ABC’s new executive regime, which in December saw Hulu’s Craig Erwich add oversight of the broadcast network to his purview after his predecessor, Karey Burke, was promoted to oversee Disney-owned studio 20th Television. Burke and Erwich developed both shows. ABC has already added four new series for the 2021-22 broadcast season with Epic and now Promised Land also in contention for series pickups for a possible midseason or beyond premiere.

Modern Family alumna Sarah Hyland is returning to ABC, joining the cast of fairytale drama pilot Epic, from Once Upon a Time creators Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis and ABC Signature. Hyland will play Rose. She is as princess-y as princesses come, and about to marry her Prince Charming. But her fairy tale gets upended when he has second thoughts, and trying to preserve her dreams opens her up to an unexpected world. Epic was penned by former Once Upon a Time writer Brigitte Hales, who executive produces with Horowitz, Kitsis and Griffiths. James Griffiths is directing the pilot, which is not for fall 2021 consideration.

ABC’s Epic fairytale drama has found its first prince. TVLine has learned exclusively that English actor/singer/songwriter Toby Sebastian, whose previous credits include an arc on HBO’s Game of Thrones, has joined the pilot as Rose’s husband-to-be, Philippe. Described as the quintessential storybook prince, Philippe is following what he believes is his destined path to True Love when he finds himself at a surprising crossroads, leading him to question everything he held dear.

Like Once Upon a Time, the high-concept Epic was a big swing and an admirable effort; I hear it just did not quite come together.

Sources say the pilot didn’t come in strong despite execs being excited about the script. The pilot was filmed in Ireland, and, because of the pandemic, Kitsis and Horowitz were unable to go on location for the shoot.