Folks behind D.C’s new television project aren’t shy about suggesting that “Badlands” is destined for TV greatness. A crime thriller set in a fictional city — but filmed and produced in the District — “Badlands” has yet to be cast, but its creators talked a big game at a press conference Wednesday morning.
Charles Long, head of local Metropolis Studios and Movies, likened “Badlands” to “Boardwalk Empire.” Director A.J. Kparr compared the project to legendary shows like “The Wire,” “Homicide: Life in the Streets,” “The Shield” and the film “The Star Chamber.” As for the story, the two detectives at the heart of “Badlands” have a “‘Lethal Weapon’-style relationship” as they take on the wealthy elites and a powerful mob who are warring for control of the city.
So what will separate this “Boardwalk Empire”/”Wire”/”Homicide”/”Shield”/”Lethal Weapon” mash-up from every other cops-and-bad-guys drama? “Native American lore,” says Kparr. (He didn’t elaborate.) He also promises a “completely ethnically diverse cast” and hopes to cast Gabrielle Union as the female detective, as he wrote the part with her in mind.
One D.C. show that “Badlands” does not compare itself to? “Homeland.” “You can totally tell it’s not [filmed] here,” says Kparr. A native Washingtonian, he’s looking forward to showing off the places of his childhood, like Rock Creek Park. Filming on the series could start as early as May.
