EXCLUSIVE: Walker star/executive producer Jared Padalecki has re-teamed with the CW series’ executive producer/showrunner Anna Fricke for a new drama project, which has been set up at CBS for development.
Like Walker, the untitled one-hour takes place in Padalecki’s home state of Texas, but instead of a ranger, he will now play a doctor. Unlike most medical dramas, which take place at big, urban hospitals, the Fricke/Padalecki project spotlights rural medicine, which is rarely seen on TV. It centers on a headstrong, devoted country doctor (Padalecki) who practices his unique style of improvisational medicine alongside his new protégé, a young doctor running from her past, as they operate a mobile clinic and heal the bodies and souls of their underserved community in the medical desert of rural Texas.
Fricke and Laura Terry executive produce through Fricke’s Pursued by a Bear alongside Padalecki and Dan Spilo. CBS Studios, where Fricke has an overall and Padalecki a first-look deal, is the studio.
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The Fricke/Padalecki project does not impact the chances of Padalecki headlining a Fire Country spinoff after he did a three-episode arc on the popular CBS/CBS Studios drama this season. That offshoot, referred to as Fire Country: Surfside, is in early stages. It remains in contention to follow Fire Country‘s greenlighted spinoff, Sheriff Country, slated to premiere next season.
Additionally, Padalecki has projects in development at CBS Studios under his first-look deal there, which he re-upped last year.
In addition to headlining and executive producing CW/CBS Studios’ Walker, Padalecki also executive produced the prequel series Walker: Independence, working on both with Fricke who developed the former and co-developed the latter in addition to her services as executive producer on both and showrunner on Walker.
“Anna Fricke is a fantastic producer, and Jared is a great producer and lead; he was a really good number one,” CBS Studios President David Stapf said of the duo following Walker‘s cancellation after four seasons.
Padalecki, known for his starring role on the long-running drama Supernatural, is repped by UTA and Industry Entertainment.
Under her CBS Studios deal, Fricke also has in the works at NBC Look What You Made Me Do, a drama which she and Terry executive produce with Leila Cohan writing and executive producing. Fricke, whose series credits include 4400, Valor and Wayward Pines, is repped by UTA and Felker Toczek Suddleson.
Jared Padalecki To Star In Texas Medical Drama From Anna Fricke At CBS
