USA Orders Jessica Biel Pilot ‘The Sinner’

USA Network has announced a pilot pickup for the crime drama The Sinner, which stars Jessica Biel, and is executive produced by her as well. Universal Cable Productions is producing the project.

The series is about a young mother who, overcome by an inexplicable fit of rage, commits a startling (and very public) act of violence. The event launches an “utterly surprising crime thriller,” says USA.

A rogue investigator is obsessed with uncovering the woman's motive, and together they venture into the depths of her psyche and unearth the violence hidden in her past.

The one-hour drama is also executive produced by Michelle Purple, Biel’s producing partner, through their company Iron Ocean Films. The pilot was written and created by executive producer Derek Simonds and is based on Petra Hammesfahr’s book. 

Antonio Campos will direct the pilot and also joins the executive producer ranks.

Michael Malone

Michael Malone, senior content producer at B+C/Multichannel News, covers network programming, including entertainment, news and sports on broadcast, cable and streaming; and local broadcast television. He hosts the podcasts Busted Pilot, about what’s new in television, and Series Business, a chat with the creator of a new program, and writes the column “The Watchman.” He joined B+C in 2005. His journalism has also appeared in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Playboy and New York magazine.