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\n\tEXCLUSIVE<\/strong>: HBO Max continues to follow The Pitt <\/em>blueprint for its drama pilots under the same model, getting a well known TV star as the lead. This Is Us<\/em> alum Milo Ventimiglia has been tapped to star in American Blue<\/em>, HBO Max\u2019s cop drama pilot from former Supernatural <\/em>showrunner Jeremy Carver and Warner Bros Television, where Carver is under an overall deal. David Ayer (Suicide Squad, Fury<\/em>) has come on board to direct.<\/p>\n \n\tWritten by Carver, American Blue<\/em> centers on native son Brian \u201cMilk\u201d Milkovich (Ventimiglia) who returns to his hometown of Joliet, Illinois, to rescue a beleaguered police force while seeking redemption of his own.<\/p>\n \n\tVentimiglia\u2019s Milk is a quietly determined, natural-born leader hoping to find a second chance in the place he left behind.<\/p>\n \n\tCarver executive produces alongside Brian Udovich, Neil Reynolds and Ayer. Ventimiglia co-executive produces, with his longtime producing partner Russ Cundiff serving as a producer.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cAmerican Blue<\/em> will take audiences inside a gritty and authentic police drama, reflecting the myriad challenges in policing today,\u201d said Sarah Aubrey, Head of Max Original Programming. \u201cAs with The Pitt<\/em>, our goal of longer seasons will allow viewers to sink deeply into this world across multiple episodes and to return to it on an annual basis. We can\u2019t wait for Jeremy Carver\u2019s vision for American Blue<\/em> to come to life with Milo Ventimiglia in the lead role and David Ayer directing our pilot.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tAmerican Blue<\/em> is one of two HBO Max pilots, along with family drama How To Survive Without Me<\/em>, developed under the model introduced by the streamer\u2019s Emmy-winning The Pitt<\/em>, which involves 15+ episodes per season, a modest budget and yearly release. <\/p>\n \n\tLike The Pitt<\/em>, created\/executive produced by R. Scott Gemmill, executive produced by John Wells and starring\/executive produced by Noah Wyle \u2014 who all worked together on ER <\/em>\u2014 American Blue<\/em> comes from an experienced network TV showrunner, Carver, who has delivered 20+ episodes a year, and is headlined by a star of a hugely popular broadcast series, This Is Us<\/em>\u2018 Ventimiglia. <\/p>\n \n\t\u201cWe are thrilled to have Milo and David join American Blue<\/em>,\u201d said Clancy Collins White, President, Creative Affairs, Warner Bros Television. \u201cMilo\u2019s dynamic presence on-screen and David\u2019s keen eye are a perfect match for the complex, character-driven drama that Jeremy created. We look forward to seeing this trio bring Milk\u2019s journey to life.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tIn addition to his role as patriarch Jack Pearson on NBC\u2019s This Is Us<\/em>, which earned him three Emmy nominations, Ventimiglia also starred on NBC\u2019s Heroes<\/em> and is known for playing Jess on Gilmore Girls<\/em>. He is part of the main cast of Netflix\u2019s next Harlan Coben limited series adaptation, I Will Find You<\/em>. Ventimiglia is repped by WME, Entertainment 360 and McKuin Frankel Whitehead.<\/p>\n \n\tThis marks only the second TV directing gig for Ayer, who previously helmed the pilot and second episode of the 2020 Fox police drama series Deputy <\/em>from Will Beall. Ayer, who most recently directed A Working Man<\/em> and The Beekeeper<\/em>, is repped by WME and David Weber and Tom Collier at Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n