NAACP Image Award winner and Emmy nominee Hanelle M. Culpepper (Paradise, Star Trek: Picard) has been tapped to direct and executive produce ‘The Undertaker,’ an ABC police procedural in development from 20th Television and Elevate Entertainment. Written by Gabriel Garza (The Winchesters, The Flash), the project adapts the 2013 hit Swiss series Der Bestatter.
The drama centers on Luke Conrad, a former police detective who returns to his family’s funeral home business, only to find himself obsessively investigating the deaths of the deceased brought to his facility. The original series, created by Hartmut Block, enjoyed a successful seven-season run on Switzerland’s Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen.
Garza executive produces alongside Culpepper. Alex Cole and Joe Wiggins executive produce for Elevate Entertainment, with Michael Wenning also serving as executive producer. One Gate Media holds the rights to the original Swiss format.
Culpepper, whose directing credits span American Crime, Gotham, How to Get Away with Murder, and Star Trek: Discovery, recently earned an Emmy nomination for directing the Season 2 finale of Hulu’s Paradise. Her upcoming slate includes Apple TV+’s sci-fi adaptation Neuromancer, as well as feature film adaptations of Amari and the Night Brothers and 1000 Miles.
–Dominique Young // @heyyydommm