NBC Developing Drama ‘Spirit Of The Law’ Based On Life Of California Pastor/DOJ Agent From Tony Krantz & DeVon Franklin

NBC has put in development drama Spirit of the Law, based on the life of California pastor Kalvin Cressel, from former Nashville co-executive producer David Gould, Tony Krantz’s Flame Ventures and Miracles From Heaven producer DeVon Franklin. ITV Studios America, where Flame Ventures has a first-look deal, is the studio.

Written and executive produced by Gould, Spirit of the Law is the story of a real-life Compton, CA, pastor who was a federal special agent for 30 years. Cressel, who is Special Agent with the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, has served as pastor of the Greater Mt. Sinai Baptist Church for nearly 19 years. He would work on dangerous cases during the week, including going undercover, coming back to his flock on Sunday at what used to be the toughest church in all of Compton when the city was torn by gang violence.

Krantz executive produces via his Flame Ventures with Franklin Entertainment’s DeVon Franklin. Christopher Broughton, who brought the project to Franklin and Krantz and John-Eric Capps of Flame co-executive produce. Pastor Kalvin Cressel and his wife, Pam Cressel, serve as executive consultants.

Gould, a former rocker who also was a writer-producer on Rizzoli & Isles, is repped by WME, Epicenter & Michael Schenkman and Greg Slewett.

Franklin, also a preacher, and Krantz previously teamed on a remake of the seminal 1975 coming-of-age drama Cooley High, which is set at MGM. Krantz also has dramedy series Suburbs Famous (working title), co-written by and starring Nia Vardalos, in development at Bravo.

Krantz and Franklin are repped by CAA.

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