Netflix is getting into the medical procedural space, with the streamer announcing a pickup for the drama “Pulse.”
The series hails from creator Zoe Robyn, who will also serve as co-showrunner alongside Carlton Cuse. In addition, Justina Machado has been cast in a series regular role.
The official logline for the series states, “While the staff of Miami’s busiest Level 1 Trauma Center navigate medical emergencies, young ER doc Dani Simms is unexpectedly promoted to Chief Resident amidst the fallout of her own provocative romantic relationship.”
Machado will star as Natalie Cruz, described as “a brilliant and politically-savvy doctor, who oversees both administration and medicine in her role as the Chair of Surgery and Emergency Medicine.”
Both Robyn and Cuse also serve as executive producers on the series. Kate Dennis will serve as director and executive producer on the show’s first two episodes. Bradley Gardner, Emma Forman, and Michael Klick also executive produce. Cuse and Forman executive produce under their Genre Arts banner.
Robyn has previously worked as a writer on shows like CBS’ “Hawaii Five-O” and “The Equalizer” reboots. She has also directed multiple shows and short films, having written many of the shorts as well.
She is repped by WME, Kaplan Perrone, and Ziffren Brittenham.
Cuse was previously the showrunner on the hit ABC series “Lost” throughout its run, sharing in the show’s Emmy win for best drama series in 2005. His recent credits include shows like “Jack Ryan” at Amazon Prime Video, “Locke & Key” at Netflix, “Five Days at Memorial” at Apple TV+, “colony” at USA Network, “The Strain” at FX, and “Bates Motel” at A&E.
He is repped by WME, Syndicate Entertainment, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.
Machado is perhaps best known for her starring role in the reboot of “One Day at a Time,” which aired its first three seasons at Netflix before the streamer canceled it. It was then picked up by Pop for a fourth season. Machado recently starred in the Amazon Prime Video series “The Horrors of Delores Roach” and has also starred in shows like “Six Feet Under” and “Queen of the South.” Her film roles include “The Purge: Anarchy” and “Torque.”
She is repped by UTA, D2 management, and Goodman Genow.
Netflix’s move into the medical procedural space is not unexpected, as procedurals ranked among the top primetime telecasts of 2023 and are consistently among the most-watched shows on streaming in the Nielsen rankings. Procedurals are also typically cheaper to produce than more serialized, prestige dramas at a time when all networks and streamers are looking to cut costs. They can also sustain incredibly long runs, with “Law & Order: SVU” currently in its 25th season at NBC and “Grey’s Anatomy” entering its 20th season at ABC.
In a recent interview with PvNew, procedural powerhouse Dick Wolf said, “They are successful because our viewers see them as comfort television. They don’t disappoint you, and you want to keep coming back.”
(Pictured, from left to right: Justina Machado, Zoe Robyn, Carlton Cuse)
