The evolution of USA Network continues apace, as a new development slate promises to lend nuance to the old "blue-sky drama" brand by way of storm clouds and contrails.
As part of its most ambitious programming gambit to date, USA has prepped a trio of new series that are darker and knottier than the jokey, genial cop/doctor/spy dramas that once were the network's stock-in-trade. The network on Tuesday also confirmed that it has picked up a pilot from executive producer Gale Anne Hurd ("The Walking Dead").
Having already wowed the crowd at last month's SXSW Film Festival, the techno-thriller "Mr. Robot" may very well be cable's most buzzworthy new show. Starring Remi Malek as a cyber-security engineer with a jones for code, narcotics and social justice (although not necessarily in that order), "Mr. Robot" is, per USA Senior VP of Original Scripted Programming Alex Sepiol, "like 'The Social Network' meets 'Fight Club.'"
An official selection of the Tribeca Film Festival, the "Mr. Robot" pilot premieres Wednesday, June 24 on USA.
Bowing the week before is "Complications," a medical/crime thriller starring Jason O'Mara ("Terra Nova," "Life on Mars") and Jessica Szohr ("Gossip Girl"). An adrenalized drama from "Burn Notice" creator Matt Nix (the lead character's version of the Hippocratic Oath may as well be, "First Kick Some Ass"), "Complications" is locked in for a 10-episode run and will launch with a special two-hour event on Thursday, June 18.
Also in the hopper is a project from "Lost" showrunner Carlton Cuse that is all but guaranteed to draw robust sampling, at least in the early going. Lost-ie Josh Holloway and Sarah Wayne Callies, late of "The Walking Dead," tussle with aliens in "Colony," a sci-fi action series set in contemporary Los Angeles.
"Colony" will debut in the fourth quarter of 2015.
Among the projects in contention for 2016 and beyond are Ms. Hurd's "Falling Water," which joins the previously announced "Queen of the South" and "The Shooter" on USA's list of top prospects. USA is also taking a long look at an adaptation of Karen Russel's 2011 novel "Swamplandia!" and "Amped," a better-living-through-chemistry superhero romp from DC Entertainment's Vertigo imprint.
As much as the new fare seems worlds apart from the network's tried-and-true formula, USA President Chris McCumber said that a lot of the old optimism and can-do spirit remains in the mix. He added that the new shows are designed to draw in a larger cohort of millennials, which now make up about two-thirds of the key adult 18-to-49 demo.
For all the inherent novelty of USA's scripted output, the high-impact antics of the network's WWE showcase arguably remains the network's crown jewel. Boasting an enviable generational mix, "Raw" week after week is one of cable's highest-rated programs among adults 18-to-34, 18-to-49 and 25-to-54. The three-hour format also allows for all sorts of unique integrations and customizations, said USA Senior VP-Ad Sales Peter Lazarus.