The CW has been a bit indecisive about Kiera Cass’ popular YA novel, The Selection. Nevertheless, they’re giving it another go by making an official order for a new pilot, according to Deadline. First, read about The Selection’s struggleto the small screen…
The CW optioned The Selection months before it was published last year. It even got as far as filming a pilot episode. Aimee Teegarden (Friday Night Lights), William Moseley (The Chronicles of Narnia), and Ethan Peck (Gregory Peck’s grandson) were cast as the leads of the dystopian The Bachelor-esque story. Last Spring, I, along with many others, was expecting The Selection to get picked up for CW’s Fall or Mid-Season slate. Nope. Nada.
In fact, it started being reported that the pilot wasn’t very good and didn’t impress the bosses. Luckily, it sounded like The CW wasn’t ready to give up on it yet. At TCA 2012 (a major TV conference), the CW president said that he really wants The Selection to work, and it’s currently being redeveloped to hit the right tone. He says he’s looking for something inbetween Game of Thrones and The Hunger Games. I guess I can see that with The Selection, but it’s way too tame and not deep enough to affect audiences like Game of Thrones and The Hunger Games have. (But, hey, this is The CW that we’re talking about…)
SEE ALSO: The Selection Book Review | Comprehensive List of 50+ YA Adaptations
So the pilot has been reworked; a new script was written by Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain. Craft and Fain have producing credits for shows like The Vampire Diaries and the now-cancelled 666 Park Avenue, which sure make them qualified for adapting a YA book like this one.
The CW is still underway with re-shooting the new pilot. All three major cast members are no longer attached; so we should also be hearing new casting announcements soon. I personally really liked Teegarden for the part and hope she does somehow return. But I won’t bet on it. I’m curious to see how the pilot has been reworked and if they did manage to get the Game of Thrones/Hunger Games vibe they aimed for.
Who do you hope gets cast in the new pilot for The Selection? Share your suggestions!
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