WGN America orders Ten Commandments original series

US cable channel WGN America has ordered 10-part scripted drama Ten Commandments from the Weinstein Company.

Running for 10 nights, each episode of the series will see a different modern interpretation of a Commandment from an A-list director.

Wes Craven, Michael Cera, Lee Daniels, Jim Sheridan and Gus Van Sant are committed to directing an episode each, and the series will be produced by Bob Weinstein and academy award-winning producer Bruce Cohen (Silver Linings Playbook).

The announcement was made on Sunday by Matt Cherniss, president and general manager of WGNA and Tribune Studios, with Ten Commandments the third original scripted show ordered by WGNA.

Previously the network had ordered Salem, based around the infamous 17th-century Salem witch trials, to premiere on 20 April. Manhattan, exploring the personal lives of the people racing to make the first atomic bomb, will start production in New Mexico in March for a July premiere.

Cherniss said: “The unique structure of the Ten Commandments project and the structure of the directors involved reflects the creative and bold approach to quality programming that we aspire to as we move towards making WGN America a destination network.”

TWC co-chairman Bob Weinstein added: “Each of these directors is acclaimed for their own unique brand of style and genre, so it’s clear that we can expect ten wildly different episodes from this series.”