At ABC’s TCA presentation, new ABC Entertainment President, Channing Dungey, talked about what she sees ABC’s future looking like when it comes to the programming offered on the network.
According to Variety, Dungey would love to have a Star Wars-themed show on the network, saying “As a fan I would absolutely love to say yes. We have had conversations with Lucas and we will continue to have conversations with them. I think it would be wonderful if we could find a way to extend that brand onto our programming.”
She then continued by saying that conversations between talks between ABC and Lucasfilm, who are both owned by Disney, are still happening and that there’s not “an official timeline yet.”
Dungey also said that the network is still looking to expand the Marvel universe, despite canceling Agent Carter and not greenlighting Marvel’s Most Wanted for the upcoming TV season. If another Marvel show does happen on the network, Dungey said “we all came to an agreement that the next show that we want to do together is something that is as creatively strong as it can be.”
As for other future programming for the network, Dungey wants to focus on dramas that feature a closed ending and procedurals. “In this binging culture, there’s something about serialized dramas that really compels people. But I would like to see more closed-ended procedurals on the network, particularly because we have to schedule 35 weeks in a year, and it’s nice because with a procedural you can do 22 episodes and they generally repeat really well,” Dungey said.
Meanwhile, Dungey confirmed that the TGIT block of programming would not be used in the fall as Scandal is being held until the midseason to accommodate Kerry Washington’s pregnancy, something that Shonda Rhimes herself tweeted on July 31.
Dungey also touched on the future of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, saying she’s aware that there hasn’t featured a person of color throughout either of the shows, but does hope that it will happen in the future. She said she was upset to see Nashville get canceled because she really enjoyed the show, but also said she is happy it has been picked up for a fifth season on CMT. She also commented on diversity on the network, saying “We’re so proud that we reflect America in all of its diversity, and we want to continue in that direction.”
At the end of the last television season, ABC finished last between in the four major broadcast networks (CBS, NBC, Fox and ABC). For the upcoming season, the network has four of the top 10 dramas returning and four of the top 10 comedies returning to their schedule.
ABC’s 2016-2017 television season kicks off on Sunday, Sept. 18 with the Primetime Emmy Awards, which are hosted by Jimmy Kimmel this year.