NBC has picked up a new comic book inspired one-hour drama pilot called “The Cape.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, “The Cape” is a “light drama with a comic book sensibility.” The story focuses on a former Los Angeles cop who becomes a masked hero in order to clear his name and reunite with his son.
“The Cape” was created by Tom Wheeler, who is perhaps best known for the “Empire” miniseries that ran on ABC back in 2005. Wheeler is also onboard as an executive producer along with Lloyd Braun and Gail Berman. The project is reportedly set up with a “premium script commitment.”
If picked up as a weekly series, “The Cape” could potentially serve as a replacement for NBC’s “Heroes” which is also heavily inspired by superhero comic books and is uncertain to return next year for a fifth season.
Hollywood studios have tried several times to create new properties with “superhero comic book sensibilities”, usually with mixed results. However, “Hancock”, “The Incredibles” and “Heroes” are often considered to be some of the most successful attempts in recent memory to recreate the vibe of classic Marvel and DC comics.
“Push” — another superhero inspired property based upon the movie of the same name — was also recently placed in development as a TV series by Summit Entertainment and E1 Entertainment.
What do you think about the premise of “The Cape”? Do you feel that NBC will be able to handle another comic book inspired series after their missteps with ‘Heroes’? Who would you cast as “The Cape”? Let us know what you’re thinking in the comment section below or on Twitter!