‘Avalon’ Canceled on ABC; David E. Kelley’s drama directed by Neve Campbell is sold elsewhere

ABC passed on David E. Kelley’s crime series avalonwith Neve Campbell after being signed directly in February.

The Disney Network stuck with the project, based on a short story by Michael Connelly, after watching the pilot.

Although unusual for a direct order, ABC has the option not to proceed with such shows after receiving the first take, and it is clear that Disney co-owns A+E Studios, which along with 20th Television was produced.

The move mirrors ABC’s move on the Alec Baldwin/Kelsey Grammer multi-cam comedy last year.

Deadline understands that A+E Networks will evaluate its options and try to sell it to another network or streamer. A+E Networks managed to buy one of its other Kelley projects, Lincoln’s lawyer, to Netflix after the death of CBS, although that ended in a legal battle.

avalon, which was commissioned live by ABC in February, takes place in the Catalina Island town of Avalon, where LA Sheriff’s Department Detective Nicole “Nic” Searcy (Campbell) runs a small office. Catalina has a local population that serves more than 1 million tourists a year, and every day when the ferries arrive, hundreds of potential new stories enter the island. Detective Searcy is drawn into a career-defining mystery that will test everything she knows about herself and the island.

Campbell’s Nic is the only detective assigned to the Catalina Island substation. Somewhat inscrutable, Nic is not easily intimidated and sticks to her morals. Ironically, her strong moral compass led to her being banished to Catalina’s largest city, Avalon. It’s a job no career-focused LA cop would want, but Nic soon discovers that her precious detective skills are needed on Avalon more than she could have imagined.

Also starring Demetrius Grosse, Alexa Mansour, Steven Pasquale and Roslyn Ruff.

Avalon was created and executive produced by Kelley, who wrote the pilot, and Connelly. Dana Calvo has been named showrunner and executive producer alongside Fineman Entertainment’s Ross Fineman and A+E Studios’ Barry Jossen and Tana Jamieson.