HBO picks up David Simon's 'Treme'

'The Wire' creator's new series stars Wendell Pierce, Clarke Peters and Steve Zahn

By HitFix Staff Wednesday, May 6, 2009 12:12 PM

Steve Zahn

Credit: AP Photo

HBO has sent "Treme," the new project from "The Wire" creator David Simon, to series.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, certain aspects of the deal for the New Orleans set drama are still up in the air, including how many episodes the pick-up is for and when the series will premiere, though it's expected that a fall launch will be in the cards.

Simon created "Treme," set in post-Katrina New Orleans, with Eric Overmyer ("Homicide").

"The Wire" veterans Wendell Pierce and Clarke Peters star, along with Steve Zahn, Khandi Alexander, Melissa Leo, Kim Dickens and Rob Brown.

The series is believed to look at the rebuilding of New Orleans, focusing specifically on a group of local musicians. The pilot was shot in the Big Easy and subsequent episodes will also be filmed in New Orleans.

While Showtime just completed a development season in which the network notoriously rejected all of its ordered pilots, HBO has been been busy adding to its stable. In addition to "Treme," HBO has a trio of new comedies -- "Hung," "Bored to Death" and "How to Make It in America." -- heading for premiere, while the Martin Scorsese-directed drama "Boardwalk Empire" will be considered when the pilot is completed.

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