Sneaky Pete, the Bryan Cranston and David Shore-produced drama series, may get a second chance on Amazon Prime after CBS passed on it this spring. The streaming video service may pick up the pilot, as Variety reports, to test viewers’ reaction before going forward with a full season order. The deal for the pilot, which introduces Giovanni Ribisi as Pete — an ex-felon who takes on his former cell mate’s identity after release from prison — has not yet been finalized.
Sony Pictures TV produced the project, which CBS recently passed on, as part of Cranston’s deal with the company. It’s Emmy-winner Cranston’s second project with Sony TV, following NBC’s Dangerous Book For Boys. Cranston co-producer is none other than the creator of House, so there’s certainly star power behind this drama.
This potential crowd-sourced decision to take the pilot to series, which would consider both viewing data and customer feedback, could open up a new way for producers and studios to link up with streaming video (and maybe even traditional) networks. Although this particular project’s production team certainly isn’t run-of-the-mill, and Deadline did report last month that multiple cable networks did “express interest.” If Amazon does pick up Sneaky Pete, it would join many other projects revived by streaming services including Community, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and The Mindy Project.
The show follows Pete, hiding from his past under this alter-ego, who ends up working for a bail bond business run by his new “family.” Alongside Ribisi, Marin Ireland, Margo Martindale, Libe Barer, Peter Gerety and Shane McRae co-star. Sources have noted, according to Variety, that the deal has not been finalized. If Amazon decides to go forward with Sneaky Pete, it will undergo “some tweaking and possible minor reshooting” before its future release.
