Fox Orders Pilot Based on DC Comics’ Lucifer

Fox is going straight to hell for its next drama. The network has ordered the hour-long pilot Lucifer, based on the character created for DC Entertainment’s Vertigo imprint.

Tom Kapinos (Californication) will write and executive produce Lucifer, which is being developed through Jerry Bruckheimer TV. Len Wiseman (Sleepy Hollow, Hawaii Five-0) will direct and executive produce the pilot.

The devil’s in the details: Lucifer revolves around the Lord of Hell, who grows bored and unhappy with his job. One day he decides to abandon his kingdom and take form in Los Angeles, where he helps the LAPD punish criminals.

Lucifer is based on characters created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg. Gaiman first introduced Lucifer in the comic book series The Sandman, which first explored the idea of the character retiring to Earth. (Lucifer’s look was based on David Bowie).

Fox first picked up the project last fall as a put pilot from Warner Bros. TV and Kapinos’ production company, Aggressive Mediocrity. But it moved forward after Bruckheimer also came on board. Bruckheimer TV’s Jerry Bruckheimer and Jonathan Littman will also serve as executive producers, while KristieAnne Reed will be co-executive producer. (Bruckheimer and Warner Bros. had previously been developing another DC adaptation, Global Frequency, for Fox.)

The Lucifer pilot comes as Fox found success this season with the DC drama Gotham, which has already been renewed for next year.

It’s a busy time in TV for DC Entertainment, which has Arrow, The Flash and the upcoming iZombie at The CW, in addition to Gotham at Fox. There’s also NBC’s Constantine, although the outlook is more bleak for its return. Projects in the works include Supergirl at CBS, Titans at TNT and Krypton at Syfy.

Kapinos’ credits also include Dawson’s Creek, where he worked with future Arrow/The Flash executive producer Greg Berlanti.