Shameless USA for HBO

Cable network HBO, which has produced some of America’s most acclaimed drama, is developing an American version of the C4 Bafta winning drama series Shameless.

USA cable network HBO is developing there own version of Paul Abbotts’ C4 drama series Shameless. HBO has signed a deal with writer and producer John Wells, who has worked on ER and The West Wing, to develop an American version of the Bafta award-winning drama series. There has been interest in developing an American version of Shameless for some years with NBC previously linked to such a venture. The British version of Shameless already aired in American on the Sundance Channel and also on BBC America.

“We are developing a US version of Shameless with John Wells writing. [The question is] how do you move that show to America and not lose its essence?,” Mike Lombardo, of HBO’s speaking to trade title TBIvision.

Shameless was created by Paul Abbott, who also wrote many of the scripts for the early seasons of the show, and has proved to be a big hit for Channel Four. Shameless was the first C4 drama series to past four seasons on air with previous popular C4 drama’s, such as Teachers and No Angels, ending on their fourth seasons. An extended fifth season of the show, clocking up 16 episodes, aired last year. A sixth season of the drama, also running to 16 episodes, will begin airing soon while a 7^th season, which will be shortened to an unconfirmed episode order, has already been given the go-ahead for next year.

HBO has produced some of America’s most acclaimed drama series’ such as Six Feet Under, Oz, Rome, The Wire and The Soprano’s. Band of Brothers, Extra’s and Rome were all made in association with the BBC.