Noah Wyle is going back to his roots, with the actor set to star in a medical procedural series that has been ordered at Max.
PvNew has learned that Max has given a 15-episode order to the series, currently titled “The Pitt.” Wyle will star and executive produce the show, which is described as “a realistic examination of the challenges facing healthcare workers in today’s America as seen through the lens of the frontline heroes working in a modern-day hospital in Pittsburgh,” per the official logline.
R. Scott Gemmill will serve as showrunner on the series, with John Wells executive producing. The series reunites Wyle, Gemmill, and Wells, as all three previously worked together on the hit NBC medical drama “ER.” Wyle starred in the series as Dr. John throughout the majority of the show’s run. Wells was the show’s initial showrunner and executive producer, while Gemmill joined the show in its sixth season and worked his way up to being an executive producer. Gemmill was most recently the showrunner on the CBS drama “NCIS: Los Angeles.”
“We are grateful to Warner Bros. Television and Max for giving us this opportunity to return to the world of urban medicine,” Wyle, Wells, and Gemmill said in a joint statement. “The myriad of challenges facing the doctors, nurses, technicians, patients, and their families who work in the trenches of modern medicine have become only more pronounced in the decade and a half since we last visited their stories. We’re thrilled to be able to return to this world with the support of our partners and are looking forward to pushing the boundaries of dramatic realism and medical accuracy in following the lives of these heroic men and women.”
Gemmill penned the first episode of the series and serves as executive producer and showrunner. Wells executive produces along with Erin Jontow via John Wells Productions. In addition to Wyle, other executive producers include Simran Baidwan and Michael Hissrich. Warner Bros Television, where John Wells Productions is under an overall deal, will serve as the studio.
“Collaborating with the visionary talents of John Wells, R. Scott Gemmill, and Noah Wyle to develop this new series has already been an exhilarating process,” said Sarah Aubrey, head of Max Original Programming. “Their passion, creativity, and dedication to storytelling elevate every aspect of the project, and together, we’re poised to deliver a compelling and authentic portrayal of today’s medical world that will captivate audiences and leave a lasting impact.”
“ER” aired for 15 seasons on NBC and was one of the most popular show’s on television during its run. It won nearly two dozen Emmys in that time with over 100 nominations. Wyle received five consecutive Emmy nominations for the show from 1995-1999 for best supporting actor in a drama as well as three Golden Globe nominations.
“It’s no secret Scott, Noah, and John know how to make great television,” said Channing Dungey, Warner Bros. Television Group Chairman and CEO. “When they came to us with the idea of reinvigorating the medical TV genre with a fresh, realistic look at today’s modern hospitals, we knew we had to jump on it. Their all-star collaboration, along with their impeccable storytelling and unwavering passion they bring to every project, is the perfect prescription for this show to become the next great medical drama. We are thankful to our partners at Max, and we can’t wait for audiences to see this show.”
In addition to his time on “ER,” Wyle is known for leading “The Librarian” franchise that includes three made-for-TV movies as well as the TV series of the same name. He also starred in the post-apocalyptic alien invasion drama “Falling Skies” at TNT and currently stars in “Leverage: Redemption” for Amazon Prime Video. In film, Wyle has been in features such as “A Few Good Men,” “Donnie Darko,” and “White Oleander.”
He is repped by Verve, Brillstein, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.
This marks the latest medical procedural to get picked up at a streamer. Netflix recently announced a series order for “Pulse,” which is set in a Miami hospital. 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. In addition, they can 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.
