The autistic community has finally gotten their chance to gain some much needed representation on the small screen. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jason Katmis’ (Friday Night Lights) series On The Spectrum has been picked up for a series order by the Amazon streaming service.
On the Spectrum is an adaptation of an Israeli program under the same name, which follows the daily lives of 20-something year olds who also happen to have autism. The American version will play upon the same premise, highlighting the universal struggles of young adults along with the unique issues that come with having autism.
Katmis has a personal connection with the developmental disorder. He told The Hollywood Reporter, “Having a 23-year-old son on the spectrum, it is deeply personal for me to get to tell this unique story of what it’s like to come of age as someone with autism. I’m grateful to Jen Salke, Vernon Sanders and the entire Amazon team, along with my friends at Universal Television, who share my passion for this project, and who are incredibly supportive creative partners.”
Katmis has written and produced a number of critically acclaimed television dramas throughout the years. His credits include: Friday Night Lights, Parenthood, Boston Public, and Rise. He has also dabbled in film with such projects as The Vow and The Pallbearer.
Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios, expressed great hopes for the project with The Hollywood Reporter, stating that “Jason Katims is exceptional at creating beautiful and relatable stories about deeply authentic characters, and this new series continues in that tradition. This series is honest, touching and incredibly entertaining, with casting that delivers a unique and genuine perspective on universal themes that we know our global Amazon Prime Video customers will love.”