Milo Ventimiglia to Star in Cop Drama Pilot ‘American Blue’ at HBO Max With David Ayer Directing

Milo Ventimiglia has been set as the star of “American Blue,” a cop drama pilot at HBO Max. Additionally, David Ayer has joined the project as director.

The official logline reads, “Native son Brian ‘Milk’ Milkovich (Ventimiglia) returns to his hometown of Joliet, Illinois, to rescue a beleaguered police force while seeking redemption of his own.” Milk is described as “a quietly determined, natural-born leader hoping to find a second chance in the place he left behind.”

Ventimiglia is best known for starring as Jack Pearson in “This Is Us,” which ran on NBC for six seasons from 2016 to 2022. He is repped by WME, Entertainment 360, Vision PR and McKuin Frankel Whitehead. Ayer, who has directed films including “Suicide Squad” (2016) and “Fury” (2014), is repped by WME and David Weber and Tom Collier at Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern, LLP.

A one-hour drama, “American Blue” is written by Jeremy Carver, who executive produces alongside Brian Udovich and Neil Reynolds. Ventimiglia serves as co-executive producer, and his producing partner Russ Cundiff serves as producer. Warner Bros. Television, where Carver is under an overall deal, is the studio.

“’American Blue’ will take audiences inside a gritty and authentic police drama, reflecting the myriad challenges in policing today,” HBO Max’s head of original programming Sarah Aubrey said in a statement. “As with ‘The Pitt,’ our goal of longer seasons will allow viewers to sink deeply into this world across multiple episodes and to return to it on an annual basis. We can’t wait for Jeremy Carver’s vision for ‘American Blue’ to come to life with Milo Ventimiglia in the lead role and David Ayer directing our pilot.”

“We are thrilled to have Milo and David join ‘American Blue,'” said Clancy Collins White, president of creative affairs at Warner Bros. Television. “Milo’s dynamic presence on-screen and David’s keen eye are a perfect match for the complex, character-driven drama that Jeremy created. We look forward to seeing this trio bring Milk’s journey to life.”

Deadline was first to report the news.