'Lost' Vet Will Run Abrams' 'Fringe'

Zap2It.com | April 9, 2008

J.J. Abrams

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Jeff Pinkner to 'Fringe,' Tommy Schlamme to 'Captain Cook's Extraoridinary Atlas'

J.J. Abrams has turned to a frequent collaborator to run his new FOX drama "Fringe," while an Emmy winner has signed on to steer the ABC fantasy "Captain Cook's Extraordinary Atlas."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jeff Pinkner will serve as executive producer/showrunner on FOX's "Fringe," a sci-fi-tinged offering from writers Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci.

Pinkner has previously served as writer-executive producer on the Abrams-produced "Alias" and "Lost."

"Fringe" focuses on a young FBI agent (Anna Torv) who teams with a scientist (John Noble) and his estranged son ( Joshua Jackson).

Alex Graves is directing the two-hour, $10 million pilot.

Over at ABC, Thomas Schlamme will the pilot for "Captain Cook's Extraordinary Atlas." Schlamme will also executive produce along with Tom Wheeler. The high-profile pilot focuses on a young girl who finds an atlas that exposes a magical world.

This is Schlamme's second ABC pilot of the development season, following the Americanized "Life on Mars."

Schlamme has won a slew of Emmys for his work directing and/or producing shows including "The West Wing," "Sports Night" and "Tracey Takes On." Last year he picked up an Emmy nod for directing the "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" pilot.