Ryan Murphy is making significant strides at ABC. The network has confidently placed a straight-to-series order for Murphy’s latest project, “Dr. Odyssey,” starring and executive produced by Joshua Jackson, known for his roles in “Dr. Death” and “Fatal Attraction.” This new drama, aiming for a fall debut, is a product of 20th Television in collaboration with Ryan Murphy Television.
The specifics of “Dr. Odyssey” remain under wraps, as is typical for a Ryan Murphy creation. However, the title hints at a medical procedural set aboard a cruise ship, reminiscent of the disaster-themed season opener of Murphy’s “9-1-1” on ABC and nodding to the classic TV series “The Love Boat.”
Joshua Jackson is set to charm audiences as the titular Dr. Odyssey, a character whose charisma is his key to success.
“Dr. Odyssey” boasts a creative team including Murphy, Jon Robin Baitz, and Joe Baken, who have previously joined forces on various projects such as “American Horror Stories” and “Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans.” They’re also collaborating on the upcoming Kim Kardashian legal drama and horror series “Grotesquerie.”
Paris Barclay, a frequent collaborator with Murphy, is on board as director and executive producer. Barclay’s work with Murphy has earned him multiple Emmy nominations, including for “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” and “Glee.”
The executive production team also includes Eric Paquette, Alexis Martin Woodall, Eric Kovtun, Scott Robertson, and Nissa Diederich.
This series marks Murphy’s first new venture with ABC since reuniting with Disney Entertainment co-chairman Dana Walden last year, returning to his former studio home at 20th Television, now part of Disney TV Studios.
Murphy’s initial ABC series, “9-1-1,” which transitioned to the network after six seasons on Fox, kicked off with impressive ratings, drawing 8.85M viewers across ABC, Hulu, and other digital platforms after just three days.
Murphy, known for serialized hits like “Nip/Tuck,” “Glee,” and “American Horror Story,” is expanding his genre repertoire with “Dr. Odyssey,” following the success of his “9-1-1” franchise, which includes “9-1-1: Lone Star.”
A medical procedural on ABC represents a logical progression for Murphy, whose storytelling prowess is also making waves in streaming platforms. His move from Netflix back to 20th TV has already resulted in a legal drama for Hulu starring Kim Kardashian, described as a high-end, glossy adult procedural.
Murphy’s recent announcements include “Grotesquerie,” a new horror series for FX, and projects at Disney like “AHS: Delicate” and “Gladiator: American Sports Story.” His work continues at Netflix with the second season of “The Watcher” and “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.”
Joshua Jackson, fresh from his role in the Paramount+ Original Series “Fatal Attraction” and his portrayal of Dr. Christopher Duntsch in “Dr. Death,” is also known for his iconic role as Pacey Witter in “Dawson’s Creek.” His career spans roles in “Little Fires Everywhere,” “When They See Us,” “The Affair,” and “Fringe.”
Jackson is set to appear in the upcoming Sony Pictures feature film “Karate Kid,” continuing his illustrious career in both television and film.