Just call Dick Wolf the king of NBC. Wolf, the prolific producer behind the Law and Order and Chicago franchises is developing a show called Boys that centers on the personal and professional lives of a boy band and Zayn Malik, the former member of One Direction, is also developing the show, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Noelle Wolf, Dick Wolf’s wife, will also be working on the series with Malik. This is the first time Dick and Noelle Wolf have worked together and it’s the first time Malik has developed a project for television. He was previously on the British version of The X Factor, first as a solo artist and then in the boy band group One Direction. Malik left the group in early 2015.
The show is part of Dick Wolf’s development deal with Universal, which runs through 2020. Wolf has been a part of the NBCUniversal family since 1990 when Law and Order premiered on the network.
Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Sarah Stennett are working on the project. Sherri Cooper Landsman and Jennifer Levin, who wrote for the CW’s Beauty and the Beast, will be writing the show and will be executive producers along with both of the Wolfs, Malik, Ghost and Peter Jankowski. Cameron will be a co-executive producer and Stennett will be an executive music producer.
Jennifer Salke, NBC Entertainment president, seemed excited about the possibility of bringing another show from Dick Wolf to the network and working with Malik, saying “It’s exciting to be diving into this project with such passionate and prolific producers. Zayn certainly brings an authentic point of view to this world where kids are catapulted into fame at a dizzying speed. On top of our excitement around the creative ideas being discussed, we have a lot of respect for the musical and digital ambitions behind the project.”
Noelle Wolf seemed excited about what the project will be about, saying “We were intrigued by the synergistic potential that Zayn brings to the project. Boys will be a show that’s totally integrated on broadcast and digital platforms. Casting and original music will be major components, giving the show promotional potential on multiple levels.”
Malik also seemed ready to work with the Wolfs, saying “Dick Wolf is a legend and the opportunity to work with him and NBC to create a compelling drama series is awesome.”
Wolf currently has four projects on the air, including the long-running Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, which is entering its 18th season, Chicago Fire, which is entering its fifth season, Chicago P.D., which is entering its fourth season and Chicago Med, which is entering its second season. Chicago Justice, the fourth show in the Chicago franchise, will be premiering in the midseason. Law and Order: True Crime, which was greenlit in July, will be Wolf’s sixth show on the network.
In addition to Boys, Wolf is also developing a new show that will be based in New York City at the FBI’s field office that’s located there.
There’s no word as to who will be starring in the show or when the show will premiere as it has yet to be greenlit by the network.
Law and Order: Special Victims Unit has its 18th season premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 9 p.m. Chicago P.D. has its fourth season premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 10 p.m. Chicago Med has its second season premiere on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 9 p.m. Chicago Fire has its fifth season premiere on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 10 p.m. Premiere dates for Chicago Justice and Law and Order: True Crime have yet to be announced.