Alan Ball, the writer-producer who developed True Blood for TV is back with HBO with Virtuoso, a Fame-like musical drama that has received a pilot pickup, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
According to the report Ball will write, exec produce and direct Virtuoso, an hourlong period drama set against the complex and volatile backdrop of 18th century Vienna.
Elton John and his husband, David Furnish, are on board to produce alongside Ball and his partner and frequent collaborator Peter Macdissi, who will also star. Ball, Macdissi and John’s Rocket Pictures CEO Steve Hamilton-Shaw created the pilot story. Ball penned the script. All five will exec produce.
Production on the pilot will take place in the spring in Budapest.
