Chris Noth is ready to return to a familiar beat.
Noth is in final talks to star in up to three "Law & Order"-branded telepics, reprising his role as Detective Mike Logan in a series of two-hour movies. Pics are being developed internally by NBC Universal Television Studio-based Wolf Films.
Last "L&O" pic with Noth, 1998's "Exiled," scored strong ratings, attracting roughly 28 million viewers to give NBC numbers that, at the time, repped the net's best overnight Sunday numbers in three years.
While NUTS would produce any "L&O" pics via Wolf Films, it's not necessarily a given the pics would air on NBC.
Cabler TNT, which broadcasts "L&O" repeats, has expressed an interest in the pics if the Peacock doesn't pounce. Noth starred in the recent TNT crime telepic "Bad Apple."
USA Network, which airs "L&O: SVU" and is part of the NBC U empire, might also be a logical home for the pics.
Strong perf for "Exiled" sparked talk of more "L&O" pics at the time, but for various reasons, nothing ever came of the talk. In addition, Noth became busy working on "Sex and the City," playing the infamous Mr. Big.
Wolf also was set to begin shooting a "L&O" miniseries for NBC, with the focus on an act of terror. Those plans were scuttled in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Wolf declined comment on the prospect of new "L&O" pics with Noth, but back in 1998, the producer left open the possibility for more pics with either Noth or other cast members.
"What 'Exiled' showed is that there's an appetite for this franchise -- and Chris was a huge part of that," Wolf told the New York Post. Noth played Logan from 1990-1995.
Wolf and NUTS declined comment. |
