With upfronts mania amping up, ABC on Thursday announced a handful of cancellations — including fan favorites Castle and Nashville. But it wasn’t all bad news, as the network shared orders for a slew of series, including Still Star-Crossed, a Shondaland offering inspired by Romeo and Juliet, plus Designated Survivor, which finds Kiefer Sutherland becoming the commander-in-chief amid an unprecedented national tragedy. Scroll through for all the teasers ABC has released so far, in addition to intel on the pilots from EW’s Natalie Abrams.
Designated Survivor
Synopsis: After an attack during the State of the Union, a lower level cabinet member (Kiefer Sutherland) is suddenly thrust into the presidency, struggling to prevent the country, and his own family, from falling into chaos.
Team: David Guggenheim will write and executive-produce with Sutherland, Simon Kinberg, Aditya Sood, and Suzan Bymel.
Cast: Kiefer Sutherland, Natascha McElhone, Maggie Q, Adan Canto, Italia Ricci, Kal Penn, Tanner Buchanan, and LaMonica Garrett
Still Star-Crossed
Synopsis: Based on the book by Melinda Taub, Still Star-Crossed is a period drama that picks up where Romeo & Juliet left off, charting the treachery, palace intrigue, and ill-fated romances of the Montagues and Capulets in the wake of the young lovers’ tragic fate.
Team: Heather Mitchell will write and executive-produce with Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers, and Michael Goldstein.
Cast: Wade Briggs, Zuleikha Robinson, Lashana Lynch, Ebonee Noel, Sterling Sulieman, Medalion Rahimi, Torrance Coombs, Anthony Head, Susan Woolridge, Grant Bowler, and Dan Hildebrand
Speechless
Synopsis: A family with a special-needs child is good at dealing with the challenges it faces and excellent at creating new ones.
Team: Scott Silveri will write and executive-produce with Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar.
Cast: Minnie Driver, Micah Fowler, Mason Cook, Kyla Kennedy, John Ross Bowie, and Cedric Yarbrough
Notorious
Synopsis: Inspired by the true-life stories of famed criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos and cable news producer Wendy Walker, the series is a provocative look at the unique, sexy, and dangerous interplay of criminal law and the media.
Team: Josh Berman and Allie Hagan will write and executive-produce with Geragos, Wendy Walker, Kenny Meiselas, Brian Gersh, Jeff Kwatinetz, and Josh Barry.
Cast: Piper Perabo, Daniel Sunjata, Sepideh Moafi, Kate Jennings Grant, Ryan Guzman, Kevin Zegers, J. August Richards, and Aimee Teegarden
Time After Time
Synopsis: Using the 1979 novel and movie as a starting point, Time After Time will chronicle the epic adventures of young H.G. Wells (Freddie Stroma) and his time machine.
Team: Kevin Williamson will write and executive-produce.
Cast: Josh Bowman, Freddie Stroma, Genesis Rodriguez, and Regina Taylor
Conviction
Synopsis:Conviction tells the story of Carter Morrison (Hayley Atwell), the brilliant but ne’er-do-well daughter of a former president, who is blackmailed into taking a job as the head of Los Angeles’ newly created Conviction Integrity Unit. She, along with her team of lawyers, investigators, and forensic experts, work together to examine cases where there’s credible suspicion that the wrong person may have been convicted of a crime.
Team: Liz Friedman will write and executive-produce with Mark Gordon, Nicholas Pepper, and Liz Friedlander, who will helm the pilot.
Cast: Hayley Atwell, Eddie Cahill, Shawn Ashmore, Merrin Dungey, Emily Kinney, Manny Montana, and Daniel DiTomasso
Imaginary Mary
Synopsis: A thirty-something bachelorette’s (Jenna Elfman) life is turned upside-down when she finally meets the love of her life — a divorced father with three kids. This triggers even more upheaval when the slightly unhinged imaginary friend she created as an only child suddenly reappears in her life to help her navigate the transition from single girl to a woman ready for a family.
Team: David Guarascio and Adam F. Goldberg will write and executive-produce Patrick Osbourne and Doug Robinson. Shawn Levy will helm the pilot.
Cast: Rachel Dratch, Jenna Elfman, Stephen Schneider, Nicholas Coombe, Matreya Scarrwener, and Erica Tremblay
Downward Dog
Synopsis: A lonely dog navigates the complexity of 21st century relationships.
Team: Michael Killen and Samm Hodges will write with Lee Eisenberg, Gene Stupnitsky and Kathy Dubziek as executive producers. Michael Killen will helm the pilot.
Cast: Allison Tolman, Lucas Neff, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Barry Rothbart, and Mo Collins
Reporting by Natalie Abrams