NGC Orders Pilot Script for ‘The Black 22s’

National Geographic Channel has ordered a pilot script for a potential new scripted drama tentatively called “The Black 22s,” which is described as the untold true story of a brilliant African-American detective in St. Louis and the first all-black police squad in America. The logline: Battling the gangland killers of Prohibition and set up to fail by their own bosses, they fought for justice during one of the most racially charged times in history, in a city that to this day is a flashpoint for racism and police brutality.

The drama will be executive produced by David Oyelowo (“Selma”); Paul Guyot (“The Librarians”); John Rogers (“The Librarians”) and Jennifer Court of Kung Fu Monkey; and Bharat Nalluri (“Life on Mars”; “MI5”), also attached as director. Paul Guyot will pen the pilot script and serve as showrunner for proposed series.