Milch Developing Cop Drama For HBO

David Milch is returning to his roots with his third drama pilot at HBO in three years. Last of the Ninth deals with rampant NYPD corruption in the 1970s. Milch co-wrote the pilot with fellow NYPD Blue executive producer Bill Clark, a former New York homicide detective. Milch is a cop drama veteran, having received his start on Steven Bochco’s Hill Street Blues before moving on to co-create ABC’s Emmy-winning NYPD Blue with Bochco.

Milch tackled similarly tough themes in his dark Western Deadwood, which ended its three-season HBO run in 2006. Last of the Ninth stems from Milch’s development deal with HBO, which was extended in August, following the network’s cancellation of John From Cincinnati after its first season.