TVSquad

It sounds like HBO is looking for another series in The Sopranos tradition. Or maybe it was The Sopranos that was in the Scorsese tradition? Either way, we recently told you about Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese's HBO project Boardwalk Empire (teaming with Mark Wahlberg and Stephen Levinson of Entourage fame), and now we can report that they've hired Terence Winter to pen the script for Boardwalk Empire. That's the name of Nelson Johnson's book about the dark underbelly in the rise and fall of Atlantic City, on which this project will be based. Call me crazy, but this sounds like perfect material for Scorsese's sensibilities, even if he's producing rather than directing.

Boardwalk Empire is still in the development phase, with a pilot yet to be ordered, but today's development is a sign that things are progressing. Winter was intimately involved with The Sopranos, working his way up to executive producer in addition to writing and directing. The Brooklyn born writer told Variety, "HBO's been my home for nine years. From day one I've never been happier working for any network or group of people. They presented me with this book and said they thought a series was there -- go find it."

As with so many projects that are in development, we'll have to wait and see where this one actually goes. However, the prospect Scorsese plus The Sopranos plus criminal activities in an allegedly corrupt place like Atlantic City all adds up to something I'd tune in to see.