Basset Hound Distribution has an extensive and robust development slate featuring Original Series, high-profile IP-based projects in series, features, MOWs and more. With commitment to fostering innovation and creativity within the industry, Basset Hound Distribution development slate has a varied mix of genres, budget levels, and subject matter. Amoung the featured slate are projects such as Getaway; a one-hour drama with Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain in partnership Princess Cruises, Hotel Motel Patels; a distinctive cultural comedy series with Amazon Prime, and Skyebound; a compelling one-hour series in development with The Hallmark Channel. Furthermore, Basset Hound Distribution, has successfully developed over 40 plus films since around 2020, including a number of ongoing movie wheels captivating global audiences. As they continue to grow, Basset Hound Distribution remain at the forefront of the entertainment realm, shaping the narrative with a dedication to quality and an unwavering focus on development.
Development
Comedy, Series
Set up – In active development
Writer: Nikhil Jayaram
Channel
Amazon
Logline
The romantically-challenged millennial children of two struggling Indian American hotel families get an arranged marriage in order to save the family business.
Synopsis
Per NPR, as many as 60% of mid-sized motels and hotels in the US are owned by people of Indian origin, and nearly one-third of them have the last name Patel specifically. The Indian community itself has dubbed them “hotel motel Patels”. This series follows the romantically-challenged millennial children of two struggling Indian American hotel families who get an arranged marriage in order to save the family business. Hotel, Motel Patels will touch on every pressure point as we look to find out if our main characters can actually make their establishment profitable, and if they can truly come to love each other.
Drama, Series
Pitching
Showrunners: Elizabeth Craft & Sarah Fain, Parnership with Princess Cruises, Jill Whelan attached to star
Logline
GETAWAY is a sexy, behind-the-scenes soap about the international crew of the Princess Getaway.
Synopsis
Tapping into the romantic and adventurous feeling of cruising the high seas, Getaway is an uplifting, blue sky series that captures the fun and vibrant experience of being aboard a luxurious Princess Cruise. Beautiful destinations abound, we lean in to the inherent escapist sensibility of travel, and the sexy, behind-the-scenes soap-style lives of the international crew of the Princess Getaway. The crew is a self-selecting group— dreamers, adventurers, risk-takers, and rule breakers, all of whom are trying to get away from something. Of course, the one thing they can’t get away from is themselves…
MOW, Romance Comedy
Set up – In active development
Channel
Hallmark
Logline
La Dolce Villa is a romantic comedy about Lauren Taylor, a born and bred New Yorker who gets way more than she bargained for after purchasing an Italian “villa” for only $1.
Synopsis
Lauren Taylor, feeling stagnant and lost in her NYC life, buys a $1 villa in Spain. With a new home in need of repair, she hires Matteo, a local contractor and painter, to help restore the villa. Working together turns into a journey of self-discovery for both of them. Lauren begins to see that life doesn’t always work out the way one imagines, and that can be a good thing.
MOW, Mystery Wheel, Ongoing
Set up – In active development
Ongoing – #1 filmed Winter 2024 (working title: Tip Line)
Channel
Hallmark
Logline
Maddie Moore works part time for the newspaper’s tip line to supplement her income when she is not working as a concierge for a prestigious hotel.
Synopsis
Maddie Moore, a part-time newspaper tip line worker and hotel concierge, receives an anonymous tip about an impending jewelry store robbery but faces skepticism from detective Dawson Beeks. When the crime occurs, Maddie, convinced it’s part of a larger pattern, teams up with Beeks to go undercover as an engaged couple to catch the elusive criminal, leading to an unexpected partnership as they unravel a series of crimes.
MOW, Mystery Wheel, Ongoing
Set up – In active development
Ongoing – #1-4 filmed: (1- Curious Caterer: Dying for Chocolate, 2- Curious Caterer: Grilling Season, 3- Curious Caterer: Fatal Vows, 4 – Curious Caterer: Sticks and Scones.) #5 – Curious Caterer 5 Greenlit to be filmed 2024
Channel
Hallmark
Logline
When the prominent owner of Hyde Castle is murdered at the Medieval masquerade ball, Curious Caterer Goldy Berry is put to the task of solving yet another mystery, trading in her kitchen smock for her sleuthing spyglass.
Synopsis
For our Colorado caterer, Goldy Berry, accepting a catering job at Hyde Castle is a dream come true. It’s not every day that she gets to cook authentic Elizabethan fare in a real castle. The royal icing on the plum cake is that it’s a masquerade ball fundraiser hosted by the Elk Park Fencing Club. But when the prominent owner of Hyde Castle is murdered at the masquerade ball, Goldy is put to the task of solving yet another mystery, trading in her kitchen smock for her sleuthing spyglass in this next installment of the series.
Greenlit next
CURIOUS CATERER: DRUMSTICK DRAMA
Logline
Caterer Goldy Berry juggles a double booking at a VIP rock concert and a first date with Detective Tom Schultz. When the lead singer dies in a suspicious incident, Tom enlists Goldy to help solve the crime, blurring the lines between business and personal life as it appears someone within the band may be involved.
Synopsis
Goldy Berry caterer extraordinaire has a dilemma to solve. A scheduling app mixup has caused her to double book herself catering a VIP rock concert as well as a first date (finally!) with none other than detective Tom Schultz, at the same concert. When the pushy concert manager won’t take no for an answer, and not having the heart to say no to Tom after all this time, Goldy finds herself secretly playing double duty. Things get even more complicated when right as Goldy finally gets a moment to enjoy her time with Tom, a part of the stage lighting collapses on the lead singer mid act. Suddenly, Goldy’s date has turned into a crime scene. With the main act dead and suspecting foul play, Tom takes charge for once wanting Goldy there to help him solve the crime.
MOW, Romantic Comedy Trilogy
Set up – In active development
Created by: Mary Pocrnic. Writers: Mary Pocrnic (#1 & #4), Betsy Morris (#2), Mark Hefti (#3)
Channel
Hallmark
Logline
Four Love Clover is a 4 part TV Movie series following Maeve, Chloe, Sarah and Amy as they navigate careers and romance with the luck of a 4 leaf clover designed into 4 separate pieces of jewelry.
MOW, Romantic Comedy Trilogy
Set up – In active development
Writer: BD Young. Based on Lucky Cowboy book series by Carolyn Brown. Wes Brown, Andrew Walker, Kristoffer Polaha attached to Star
Channel
Hallmark
Logline
Texas. Big sky country. And home to people with ties that go deep and bonds of love that keep everyone together. Based on the best-selling books by Diana Palmer, Long, Tall Texans, is a series about three brothers who inherit a feed-lot cattle ranch after the untimely death of their parents. This is their story – a story of running a successful ranch, the relationship between them, and the lives of the women they fall in love with.
MOW, Mystery
Set up – In active development
Writer: Michelle Ricci
Channel
Hallmark
Logline
Empty-nester Madeleine travels to a “cursed” manor house in her grandpa’s childhood village in Ireland looking for inspiration for her novel, finding instead its buried secrets and filling the hole in her family she never knew existed.
Synopsis
Empty-nester Madeleine travels to a “cursed” manor house in her grandpa’s childhood village in Ireland looking for inspiration for her novel, but what she finds instead is its buried secrets, leading her to investigate and fill the holes in an extended family she never knew she had.
MOW, Mystery Wheel
Set up – In active development
Writer: John Plummer. Kristoffer Polaha attached to produce and star
Channel
Hallmark
Logline
In the rugged terrain of Sierra Nevadas, Orson Holt, a former CIA operative and private eye, emerges from the shadows of his past.
Synopsis
In the rugged terrain of Sierra Nevadas, Orson Holt, a former CIA operative and private eye, emerges from the shadows of his past. Trained by a skilled tracker after losing his parents in a plane crash, Orson’s proficiency in reading nature’s signs transcends to his uncanny ability to navigate the complexities of human nature. Fueled by the tragic loss of his wife and child, he embarks on a relentless quest for justice, honing his investigative skills to an extraordinary level. After a decade in the covert world, Orson seeks refuge in Carmel Valley, driven by an unrelenting determination and a perilous past, Orson Holt, a man with nothing to lose, walks the fine line between detective work and explosive action.
MOW, Colombia, Rom Com
Set up – In active development
Writers: Julie Kim & Karine Marwood
Channel
Hallmark
Logline
Love’s a Brewin’ is a romantic comedy about coffee shop owner Sophia Ricci, who in order to save her business needs to win the upcoming Barista State Championship where her main competition is the reigning world champ…and the guy she’s falling for.
Synopsis
Sophia Ricci, owner of The Luv Cup coffee shop, clashes with rival barista Joe Silva from HavaJava. Despite their growing attraction, Sophia refuses to date Joe due to his affiliation with the competition. A wager is made: if Sophia beats Joe in the Barista Championship, HavaJava relinquishes its lease next door; if Joe wins, Sophia must sell her shop. As the competition nears, Sophia realizes she can’t win in time and considers dropping out, but Joe insists on coaching her. Despite sabotage, Sophia triumphs, saving her shop. Joe, using insider knowledge, forces HavaJava to honor the bet. Sophia and Joe unite in both business and love.
MOW, Holiday Romance
Set up – In active development
Writer: Patricia Isaac
MOW, Holiday Romance
Set up – In active development
Writer: Teresa Kale
Channel
Hallmark
Logline
In a spirited tale of musical rivalry and unexpected harmony, Richard, a meticulous conductor, and Meredith, a free-spirited leader, join forces with their Boston handbell ensembles to take on the international stage.
Synopsis
In a spirited tale of musical rivalry and unexpected harmony, Richard, a meticulous conductor, and Meredith, a free-spirited leader, join forces with their Boston handbell ensembles to take on the international stage. Facing fierce competition from a Swedish mega-group, they merge their distinct styles and navigate the challenges of blending classical precision with joyful spontaneity. As their musical collaboration flourishes, so does a budding romance, tested when a tempting offer from the Swedish conductor pulls Meredith into a love triangle she never imagined.
MOW, Holiday Romance
Set up – In active development
Writer: Chris Sey
Channel
Hallmark
Logline
A fashion photographer dispatched to Paris for Fashion Week is thrown for a loop when she’s paired with her ex on a Christmas-themed fashion shoot across Paris at Christmas.
Synopsis
In a whirlwind of Christmas enchantment, fashion photographer Becca receives an unexpected opportunity to shoot at Paris Fashion Week for a major French designer, Francois. However, her joy turns to surprise when she discovers her ex-flame Jack is the creative director. Forced to collaborate amid the glamor of Versailles, they compete creatively while navigating the demanding Francois and participating in his family’s Christmas celebrations. As Paris works its romantic magic, old wounds resurface, but amid the iconic cityscape, Becca and Jack rediscover love, leading to a heartfelt reunion and a joyous Christmas in Paris.
MOW, Holiday Romance
Set up – In active development
Writer: Russell Hainline
Channel
Hallmark
Logline
In Kringle, Wisconsin, as Alan and Julie attend the elite Santa program, they discover a man named Nick, possibly the real Santa with amnesia.
Synopsis
In the festive town of Kringle, Wisconsin, home to the renowned Kringle Santa School, Alan Marcos and Julie Harmening enroll in the elite-level program. During a snowstorm, they find a mysterious man resembling Santa, nicknamed Nick, with amnesia. Alan and Julie become his guardians, suspecting he might be the real Santa Claus. As they navigate the Santa School challenges, Nick’s magical skills raise doubts and speculation. Despite setbacks, Alan and Julie grow closer, discovering the true meaning of Christmas through Nick’s guidance. Suspicion deepens when a historic sleigh is found, indicating Nick’s authenticity. However, Nick’s wife appears, asserting his memory loss and penchant for playing Santa. Alan and Julie skip their final exam to find Nick, who imparts wisdom about Christmas values. In an impromptu Santa visit, Nick rediscovers his purpose, hinting at a future return. A year later, Alan and Julie run a successful Christmas venture, watched by Nick and his wife, signaling a heartwarming ending.
MOW, Holiday Romance
Set up – In active development
Writers: Stephanie Sourapas & Tom McCurrie
Channel
Hallmark
Logline
A Chicago couple enters an “Amazing Race”-style Christmas treasure hunt to spice up their marriage, only to realize they must win the race to save both their business and their relationship
Synopsis
Avery and Lewis Plum, a married couple running a struggling candy store, face marital issues as their fifth anniversary approaches. Avery plans a surprise involving a Christmas treasure hunt contest in Chicago. Initially reluctant, Lewis agrees, but the entry of Avery’s charismatic ex-boyfriend, Wes, adds tension. As they navigate challenges, Avery and Lewis rediscover each other, but miscommunications with Wes threaten their marriage. When a bank rejects their loan, they must win the contest for Sugar Plums’ survival. Amidst challenges, conflicts, and revelations, Avery and Lewis reconcile, realizing the true value of their relationship. The final race against Wes culminates in a close finish, with Avery and Lewis ultimately triumphing, saving their business and reigniting their love.
MOW, Holiday Romance
Set up – In active development
Writers: Julie Kim & Karine Marwood
Channel
Hallmark
Logline
St. Judes Christmas tells the story of Jennifer and Rob, who met at St. Jude when they were both children being treated for cancer.
Synopsis
St. Judes Christmas tells the story of Jennifer and Rob, who met at St. Jude when they were both children being treated for cancer. Twenty-five years later, after losing touch, they find themselves face to face during the holiday season, working at the hospital that saved their lives. Rekindling their friendship, with intentions to simply give back, they discover destiny has more in store—a romance that they never expected.
MOW, Holiday Romance
Set up – In active development
Writer: Chris Sey
Channel
Hallmark
MOW, Australia, Rom Com
Set up – In active development
Writer: Ryan Smith. Kevin McGarry attached to produce and star.
Channel
Hallmark
Logline
A refined archaeologist, seeking lost treasure, teams up with a struggling tour boat captain for passage to the Ancient Ruins. Caught in a storm, they navigate cursed tombs, dodge traps, and retrieve the treasure, all while convincing tourists it’s part of a thrilling island tour.
Synopsis
A well-mannered archeologist on the hunt for lost treasure meets a down on his luck tour boat captain and reluctantly agrees to help him lead a “fun” and “romantic” island tour in exchange for passage to the Ancient Ruins, the rumored location of the lost treasure. But when a storm charts them off course and into the lair of the cursed tomb, they must come together to evade the ancient tombs booby traps, find the cursed treasure, and escape the ruins all while convincing the patrons that “it’s all part of the tour”.
Murder Mystery, Series
Pitching
Based on “Trouble in Paraside” trilogy of murder mystery books by Carrie Doyle. Showrunner: Annie Burner. Hayden Panettiere is attached to star.
Logline
Set in a beautiful location, with a strong female lead, think White Lotus meets Only Murders in the Building.
Synopsis
Investigative Journalist Victoria Lockhart loses her job and instantly goes from being on top of the world to New York sludge on the bottom of her shoe. No one will return her calls or emails. Bills are piling up. Desperate for work, Victoria must accept the only job she’s offered – managing a Villa on a beautiful Caribbean island. You would think it being paradise, nothing could go wrong – However, the company she now works for is in complete shambles, not to mention how it takes forever to get anything done thanks to everyone working on “island time”. There’s competition from neighboring resorts and she can’t stop thinking about the handsome detective Juan – though there’s nothing wrong with that – except for when a wealthy guest is found dead…at her villa! With her job and reputation on the line and the police ruling the death as an accident (because murder is bad for tourism), Victoria has no choice but to investigate the crime herself. (She has a degree in journalism and has read every Agatha Christie novel ever written – how hard can it be?) Trouble in Paradise is a weekly soap, mystery dramedy about a woman questioning life’s biggest decisions while dealing with a new job, over privileged clients, a handsome crush, and murder!
Drama, Series
Pitching
Based on the “Filthy Rich” book trilogy by Angelina M. Lopez. Showrunner: Lesley Demetriades
Logline
With so much content exploiting “male power & dominance” these days, this is… not that. Lush Money is an empowered, provocative play on the dynamics seen in some of the most popular romance series of today. Through the lens of gender roles and biases, it explores consent and connection, with a clear representation of a female character leading the narrative on her sexuality – something that audiences are starved for. A powerful woman meets a prince and she’s the one calling the shots. Now that’s a story worth telling… In the rarified air of US Billionaires and European Royalty, a secret business deal of epic proportions has been struck; three sex-filled nights a month to sire an heir in exchange for a settlement large enough to revive the economy of a once legendary, but now struggling, Spanish kingdom.
Synopsis
A marriage of convenience and three nights a month. That’s all the sultry, self-made billionaire wants from the impoverished prince. And at the end of the year, she’ll grant him his divorce…with a settlement large enough to save his beloved kingdom. As a Latinx woman, Roxanne Medina has conquered small-town bullies, Ivy League snobs and boardrooms full of men. She’s earned the right to mother a princess and feel a little less lonely at the top. The offer she’s made is more than generous, and when the contract’s fulfilled, they’ll both walk away with everything they’ve ever wanted. Príncipe Mateo Ferdinand Juan Carlos de Esperanza y Santos is one of the top winegrowers in the world, and he’s not marrying and having a baby with a stranger. Even if the millions she’s offering could save his once-legendary wine-producing principality. But the successful, single-minded beauty uses a weapon prince Mateo hadn’t counted on: his own desire.
Crime Procedural, Series
Pitching
Based on “Michael O’Higgins” book series. Written and adapted by Kent Harrington (author of the novel and book series). Michael Scott is attached to produce, and Tom Cavanagh is attached to direct and star.
Logline
In August, San Francisco is a cold beauty…and the perfect place for a killer targeting young women visiting the Bay Area. The latest victim is Emma Barre, a deaf French teenager. Emma is also brilliant and due to enter one of France’s best universities. But Emma, just seventeen, has disappeared while visiting the City’s famous Pier 39 with her parents. The extremely well known and heavily visited tourist attraction is the site of all the killer’s previous abductions. Somehow, this psychopath is able to spirit his victims away despite the attraction being full of visitors from all over the world. Her only hope is troubled SFPD Detective Michael O’Higgins, currently taking Acid as part of an experimental program for PSTD patients. but can O’Higgins see clearly enough to track down an elusive killer, or will mind-altering substances prevent him from doing his sworn duty? As O’Higgins closes in, he will come face-to-face with both the trauma that ruptured his own life, and a killer hell-bent on ending that of a young girl.
Adventure, Series
Pitching
Inspired by real events, and based on the novel “Fatal Treasure” by Jedwin Smith. Orly Adleson is attached to produce. Showrunner: Nick Wauters.
Logline
Grounded in its raw reality, beauty and ugliness, is a story about how deeply one man’s White Whale affected the lives of all those close to him, showing us the real-life trials and tribulations of an unusual man, his family, and the countless others who were – for better or worse – seduced into joining his quest.
Synopsis
The chase will chronicle the less than glamorous, day-to-day reality of legendary treasure hunter MEL FISHER, his family, and his ragtag team of “treasure seekers” as they join the unflappable Mel through the few ups and many downs of his 25-year quixotic dreamquest for the Nuestra Señora de Atocha (Our Lady of Atocha), a Spanish galleon that sank off the coast of Florida in 1622, laden with gold and precious stones believed to be worth half a billion dollars. The show will delve into the Fishers’ complicated relationships, highs and lows, and struggles as they live the life of real treasure hunters – a lifestyle that is anything but predictable. And this is especially true when the person at the helm is Mel Fisher – a dreamer with a Peter Pan complex, out of touch with reality, addicted to the chase, and blissfully unaware of the chaos, destruction, and tragedies he left in his wake during his relentless, quarter-century search for the elusive ghost galleon. Fisher’s dream came true, but his success came at a price for him and those around him, tore his family apart, ruined friendships, destroyed relationships, and even cost several lives…ultimately begging the question: Was it all worth it?
Action Drama, Series
Pitching
Based on the popular Manga Series “Immortal Hounds”. Developed by Kalen Egan & Travis Sentell (The Man in the High Castle, Electric Dreams)
Logline
Are you willing to die for love? In an alternate world where humans can naturally resurrect themselves, a disease called Resurrection Deficiency Syndrome emerges. Once infected, death becomes permanent. The disease is spread by individuals who are unable to revive. To protect society, the police hunt these individuals. However, standing in their way is a mysterious organization that protects them from harm. Will KENZAKI, a cold- hearted cop, be able to take down RIN, a highly-skilled agent, to save innocent civilians from the illness?
Fantasy, Series
Pitching
Based on the book series “Spellslinger” and prequel book series “Way of the Argosi” by Sebastien de Castell. Chad Stahelski (John Wick movie series) is attached as director.
Logline
How far would you go to win your magic back? Kellen is moments away from facing his first mage’s duel and the start of four trials that will make him a spellcaster. There’s just one problem: his magic is gone. As his sixteenth birthday approaches, Kellen falls back on his cunning in a bid to avoid total disgrace. But when a daring stranger arrives in town, she challenges Kellen to take a different path. Ferius Parfax is one of the mysterious Argosi – a traveller who lives by her wits and the three decks of cards she carries. She’s difficult and unpredictable, but she may be Kellen’s only hope. As Kellen fights to uncover the truth about himself, he also uncovers dark secrets about his peoples’ history.
Historical Drama, Series
Pitching
Gold Coast (Original Series – Inspired by real events, Pilot & Pitch) – Is a series by Derek Liakos and Adam Belanoff (Co-EP On Fox’s Fantasy Island, EP On the Closer and Major Crimes).
Logline
Inspired by real events. Written by Derek Liakos and with Adam Bellaoff (Co-EP On Fox’s Fantasy Island, EP On the Closer and Major Crimes) supervising.
