According to Deadline, ABC is developing an adaptation of the Swiss police procedural Der Bestatter, which translates to The Undertaker. The series is from writer Gabriel Garza and director Hanelle M. Culpepper. 20th Century and Elevate Entertainment produce the upcoming adaption.

The series follows former police detective Luke Combs after he takes the reins of his family funeral home. Unable to completely discard his past as law enforcement, Combs investigates the mysterious deaths of the bodies that land on his doorstep. Hartmut Block (Under Suspicion, Mobbing Girls) created the original series. Der Bestatter enjoyed a seven-season run on Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen in Switzerland. 

In addition to writing the series, Garza will serve as executive producer. Culpepper also executive produces, along with Joe Wiggins (Midlife Crisis, Dangerous Moms) and Alex Cole (Vinne Jones In The Country, The Wonder Yard) from Elevate Entertainment, and Michael Wenning (Crossing Lines, The Last Cop). 

Originally finding his footing in animation and sitcoms, Garza would eventually become a writer and executive producer on the CW’s The Flash. Garza took the lead in the writers’ room and was involved in the production of more than 100 episodes of the show. After his time on The Flash, Garza wrote and produced for the Supernatural spin-off series The Winchesters. 

Culpepper has had an illustrious career in television directing, helming episodes for series such as American Crime, Gotham, How to Get Away with Murder, and Star Trek: Discovery. Her recent work on the season two finale of the Hulu series Paradise garnered her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Directing. Since Paradise, she has been booked and busy. She will direct on the upcoming adaptation of the William Gibson (Count Zero, Mona Lisa Overdrive) novel Neuromancer. She also has feature projects lined up, namely adaptations of Amari and the Night Brothers and 1000 Miles. WME and MetaMorphic Entertainment represent both Garza and Culpepper.