Amazon orders remake of Israeli show 'On the Spectrum'
Jason Katims will create a pilot of the series about young adults with autism.
By AMY SPIROOn the Spectrum(photo credit: OHAD ROMANO/YES)
Amazon Studios is producing an American version of the acclaimed Israeli TV show On the Spectrum.Amazon has ordered a pilot of the remake from writer Jason Katims, who created the hit shows Parenthood, Friday Night Lights and more. The original show was created by Dana Idisis for Yes, and follows the lives of three 20-somethings in Tel Aviv who are on the autism spectrum.Idisis has spoken publicly about her brother with autism who inspired the show, and Katims has a son with autism, an experience which was the inspiration for a character on Parenthood.According to The Observer, the US versions of the main characters - Jack, Violet and Harrison - will stick closely to the personalities of the original show: Amit, Zohar and Ron.On the Spectrum, which premiered in Israel last year, has won praise both locally and abroad. In May it won the top prize at the SeriesMania competition in France, a month after it premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. And earlier this month the show was the big winner at the annual Israeli Television Academy Awards, taking home the prizes for best drama, director, actress, screenplay, cinematography, editing, artistic direction, casting and post-production.
