Big Thunder Mountain TV show gets ABC pilot order

ABC executives are queuing up for the network’s Big Thunder Mountain project. ABC just gave a pilot order to Big Thunder, which is inspired by the 1979 Disneyland theme park mine ride.

“When a brilliant, late 19th century New York doctor and his family are given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to relocate to a frontier mining town run by a powerful, but mysterious tycoon, they quickly realize that not everything in Big Thunder is as it seems,” goes the show’s logline. Jason Fuchs (Ice Age: Continental Drift) has the task of writing the pilot. Chris Morgan (The Troop) will executive produce.

In addition to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise keeping giving its theme park rides new big-screen life, Disney has a film starring George Clooney with the title Tomorrowland in the works. Tomorrowland is being developed by director Brad Bird (Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol) and writers Damon Lindelof (Lost) and Entertainment Weekly’s own Jeff “Doc” Jensen.

ABC also picked up three other drama pilots Tuesday:

— Gothica. It’s described as “a sexy gothic soap set in present day that weaves together a mythology that incorporates the legends of Dracula, Jekyll and Hyde, Frankenstein and Dorian Gray among others.” That’s from writer Matt Lopez (Race to Witch Mountain). If that logline sounds familiar, it might be because Showtime has a similar monster mash project in the works.

— Reckless from writer Chris Black (Desperate Housewives). Logline: “When his wife is unjustly imprisoned during a political uprising overseas, resourceful problem solver David, desperately pursues every legal option to secure her release. But when he’s stymied by the US government in the name of diplomacy, David is forced to consider less-than-legal options – entering a world of political intrigue, dangerous alliances and high emotional stakes.” Martin Campbell is an executive producer.

— Murder in Manhattan from writer Maria Maggenti (Without a Trace). Logline: “Hour long dramedy set in NYC centering on a mother and daughter who team up as amateur sleuths.”