ITV’s Head of Drama Polly Hill today confirmed commission of six-part crime drama, Wild Bill, starring Emmy and Golden Globe nominated actor, Rob Lowe as high-flying US cop, Bill Hixon, who is appointed Chief Constable of the East Lincolnshire Police Force.

The drama is the first time 42 (Traitors, Ironbark, Watership Down) Anonymous Content (13 Reasons Why, Maniac, Mr. Robot) and ITV Studios label, Shiver, have collaborated to produce a drama series for the channel. Rob Lowe is internationally renowned for his work in film and television including The West Wing, Parks and Recreation, Code Black and St. Elmo’s Fire. His iconic career spans four decades in film, television and theatre. He also is an acclaimed author and has been awarded two Screen Actors Guild Awards during his illustrious career.

Wild Bill is created by David Griffiths (The Hunted, Collateral Damage), Kyle Killen (Halo, Awake) and Dudi Appleton and Jim Keeble (Silent Witness, Thorne: Sleepyhead & Scaredycat, Trial & Retribution), and will be written by lead writers and show-runners Keeble and Appleton.

Rob Lowe will also act as an Executive Producer on Wild Bill alongside Eleanor Moran (Rome, Being Human, Watership Down) and Rory Aitken (In Darkness, Watership Down, Traitors) on behalf of 42, and Tim Carter (Traitors, Garrow’s Law, Privates) Managing Director of ITV Studios label Shiver. Writers Dudi Appleton and Jim Keeble, creator David Griffiths, Kyle Killen, Scott Pennington and Keith Redmon from Anonymous Content also join the team as Executive Producers.

When high-flying US police chief Bill Hixon lands in Boston, Lincolnshire, with his 14 year-old daughter Kelsey in tow, he's hoping they can flee their painful recent past. But this unfamiliar, unimpressed community will force Bill to question everything about himself and leave him asking whether it's Boston that needs Bill, or Bill that needs Boston?

Commented Rob Lowe:

“As an actor, Wild Bill is a larger than life character who’s outrageously articulate, has nothing to lose and revels in being an American fish out of water. As a Executive Producer, I’m excited to work with such talented partners and to come back to work in the UK, which I always love.”

With a first class degree in Criminology, a Masters in Psychopathology and a Doctorate in Statistical Mapping, Bill Hixon is impressively qualified to tackle the county’s crime figures with his graphs, charts, algorithms and a tapestry of digits. Whip-smart, acerbic and unstoppable, Bill is very good at what he does. America’s Top Metropolitan Police Chief three years running is the ideal candidate to make his mark on the East Lincolnshire Force, not least by driving through drastic cuts. From the outset Bill isn’t about making friends. He’s here to get the job done and get the hell out as quick as his spin-class-toned legs will carry him.

But Bill discovers the people of Boston are just as smart-mouthed, cynical and difficult to impress as he is. They don’t suffer fools, authority or algorithms gladly. And the man who’s spent his life keeping the messiness of human intimacy at arm’s length is reluctantly propelled into frontline policing and forced to reconsider his relationship with those closest to him. It’s funny and dangerous in equal measure.

Writers and creators Jim Keeble and Dudi Appleton said:

“Wild Bill gives us an chance to write about modern Britain and modern crime through unique eyes. We wrote this for Rob Lowe, for his smart-talking, anarchic, soulful voice. Displacing Rob in Brexit Britain and specifically in Boston, Lincolnshire allows us to tell stories that are leftfield and unexpected. We wanted to write something that couldn’t take place anywhere else, or at any other time.”

Commented Polly Hill:

“I’m delighted to have Wild Bill on ITV, as it’s a really fresh take on police procedure and introduces a brilliant new cop to be played by the wonderful Rob Lowe. It’s a fantastic team and an exciting new drama for next year.”

The drama will be directed by Lead Director Charles Martin (Marcella, Skins, Wallander) and produced by Chris Thompson (Emerald City, The Fear, Eric and Ernie).

Eleanor Moran and Rory Aitken of 42 commented:

“Wild Bill is a sharp-witted and original take on the police procedural show which audiences have yet to see in this genre. Rob Lowe has a magnetic screen presence which is perfectly suited to bring the character of Bill Hixon to life: a blunt, take-no-prisoners police chief who shakes up the Lincolnshire Force. We can’t wait to get started.”

Commented Tim Carter, Managing Director of ITV Studios label, Shiver, and Executive Producer:

“Wild Bill is Shiver’s first scripted project and brand new territory for the label. Having been fortunate to partner with the innovative and inspiring 42 on other scripted projects before coming to ITV Studios, I am delighted to be working with them again and hope this collaboration will be the first of many. Add the peerless track record of US super-producer Anonymous Content into the mix, genius show-runners in Jim and Dudi, and of course a Hollywood legend …it’s beyond exciting.”

Filming will take place around London and in Lincolnshire from November 2018. Further casting details will be available prior to filming commencing.

ITVS GE will be responsible for the international distribution of the series.

Note to Editors

Rob Lowe biography

Rob Lowe’s iconic career spans four decades in film, television and theatre. He also is an acclaimed author. Lowe has been nominated for two Emmy Awards, six Golden Globes and four Screen Actors Guild Awards, the latter of which he won two. He has starred in the ’80s classics “St. Elmo’s Fire,” “About Last Night” and “The Outsiders,” as well as television classics, such as “The West Wing” and “Parks and Recreation.” Lowe’s incredibly diverse career also includes scene-stealing work in the cable film “Behind the Candelabra,” the “Austin Powers” movie franchise and feature comedy “Tommy Boy.” His two memoirs, “Stories I Only Tell My Friends” and “Love Life” are both New York Times Best Sellers. Lowe most recently wrapped Season Three of the network medical drama “Code Black” and is currently starring in and directing a remake of the four-time Academy Award nominated film “The Bad Seed.”

About 42

42 is a management and production company, with offices in London and Los Angeles. Established in 2013, 42 is run by five partners: producers Rory Aitken and Ben Pugh and managers Kate Buckley, Cathy King and Josh Varney.

42’s management division represents an eclectic range of high profile and emerging talent. The company’s client list includes actors, writers, directors, producers, and casting directors.

Their upcoming slate includes IRONBARK in pre-production with Sunnymarch and FilmNation Entertainment also producing and set to star Benedict Cumberbatch as well as IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON, starring Boyd Holbrook and financed by Netflix, which recently wrapped its shoot.

Other films in post-production include André Øvredal’s MORTAL, a fantasy adventure based on ancient Norwegian mythology.

Recent releases include IN DARKNESS, directed by Anthony Byrne and starring Natalie Dormer and Ed Skrein and THE TITAN starring Sam Worthington and Taylor Schilling. Previous film credits include Øvredal’s ‪THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE; Eran Creevy’s COLLIDE, starring Nicholas Hoult, Felicity Jones, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Sir Ben Kingsley; war drama SAND CASTLE starring Nicholas Hoult and Henry Cavill, which was released on Netflix globally; 20th Century Fox’s ‪THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR directed by Johannes Roberts; London-based crime thriller ‪WELCOME TO THE PUNCH, exec produced by Ridley Scott and the BAFTA-nominated feature film SHIFTY, starring Riz Ahmed.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

42’s TV projects include TRAITORS, a 6-part drama series commissioned by Channel 4, written by Bash Doran and starring Michael Stuhlbarg, Emma Appleton, Keeley Hawes and Luke Treadaway in post-production; ‪WATERSHIP DOWN, a 4 x 1 hour animated mini-series for BBC and Netflix, adapted from the global best-selling book by Richard Adams, written by Tom Bidwell, and featuring the voices of James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult, John Boyega, Sir Ben Kingsley, Daniel Kaluuya, Gemma Arterton and Olivia Colman due to TX later this year and THE ENGLISH GAME, a 6-part drama series for Netflix, written by Julian Fellowes.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

42 has a multi-year first-look development, financing and production deal for feature films with Netflix.

42 has a television output deal in the UK with distributor ITV Studios Global Entertainment; and a first look deal in the US with ITV Studios.

About Dudi Appleton and Jim Keeble

Dudi Appleton and Jim Keeble through their company 87 Films (founded in partnership with Executive Producer Patrick Irwin (The Fall) has an on-going deal with Fremantle Global for development and distribution. They are represented by Casarotto Ramsay & Associates and UTA.

About Shiver

Shiver, the multi-award winning ITV Studios label, produces a broad array of critically acclaimed programming for a range of channels including ITV, the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5 and UKTV. Credits include documentaries such as Trevor McDonald: Return to South Africa and 63 Up!, popular factual entertainment content such as Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs, Gino's Italian Escape and Britain's Best Junior Doctors, consumer and current affairs programming including The Martin Lewis Money Show, Peston, Tonight, Eat, Shop, Save, and long-running formats like Come Dine With Me, which has sold in to over 40 territories worldwide.

Recent commissions include Embarrassing Pets for Channel 4, The Comedy Years for ITV3 and David Jason: Planes, Trains and Automobiles for UKTV.

About Anonymous Content

Founded in 1999 by CEO Steve Golin, Anonymous Content is a leading management and film, TV and commercial production company. Anonymous Content manages the careers of many of the world’s most renowned and innovative directors, writers, actors, comedians, authors, and publications such as The New York Times, working closely with them to achieve their goals by both creating and finding opportunities for them, whether in feature films, television, commercials, music videos or brand integrated content. Anonymous Content’s clients have been recognized with Academy Awards®, Emmys®, Golden Globes®, Tony Awards®, Pulitzer Prizes® and other prestigious awards. The company’s award-winning Film & TV division boasts many commercially successful and critically acclaimed works, including Best Picture Academy Award winning SPOTLIGHT, THE REVENANT, ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND, BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, BABEL, and WINTER’S BONE.

The company’s TV slate includes “True Detective” (HBO), “Mr. Robot” (USA Network), “13 Reasons Why” (Netflix), “Berlin Station” (EPIX), “Counterpart” (Starz), “The OA” (Netflix), “Electric Dreams” (Channel 4/Amazon),), “The Alienist” (TNT), “Maniac” (Netflix), as well as the upcoming “Catch-22” (Hulu), “Homecoming” (Amazon), “Dickinson” (Apple), “One Day She’ll Darken” (TNT), the Untitled mystery drama series inspired by the real-life story of 11-year-old Hilde Lysiak (Apple) and “$1” (CBS All Access).