He’s tackled the land of “Oz,” and now Tom Fontana may take a crack at another disturbing world.
Fontana has landed a commitment at Fox to develop a high concept series about three troubled characters who are whisked away to a secret location and forced to create rules and interact on their own. ATG would produce the project, which sources call a cross between “Lost Horizon” and “Survivor.”
Fontana, whose credits include the gritty prison drama “Oz” and the equally acclaimed drama “Homicide: Life on the Street,” will write the Fox project, repping the first piece he’s developed for the network.
Fontana was attached as an exec producer on the Fox pilot “Killer App” last year, but the network set out to find a new project for him after “Killer App” wasn’t picked up. Fox execs are said to be high on the put presentation and have been anxious to work with the producer.
Fontana most recently served as an exec producer on the CBS telepic “An American Tragedy” and created the short-lived UPN series “The Beat.”
Meanwhile, ATG’s sister management firm AMG has set up a development project at Fox from Internet creators Art Brown and Terry Gatens through 20th Century Fox TV.
The script “My Generation” features five high school kids who come of age while working at a country club. Brown and Gatens, who created web films including “Eating Las Vegas” and “Tardz,” will also develop 30-second animated and live-action interstitials for potential air on the network. Producer Jeff Kline will work with Brown and Gatens on both projects.
Fontana is repped by UTA. Brown and Gatens are repped by AMG’s Rob Wolken and Paul Haas and attorneys Karl Austen and Bill Abrams.
