ABC orders drama pilot 'Rabbit', a US remake of BBC series 'Ludwig'
ABC has ordered a pilot called 'Rabbit', a US adaptation of the BBC comedy drama 'Ludwig', from writers Megan Ganz and Humphrey Ker and 20th Television. Trade outlets report it as ABC's first pilot order of the year.
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The story, neutrally told
Left · 3ABC has ordered a drama pilot called 'Rabbit', a US adaptation of the BBC series 'Ludwig'. VarietyLC “ABC has ordered a drama pilot that is based on the popular BBC One series “Ludwig,” Variety has learned.” Read at Variety ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “The network has ordered a pilot for a U.S.-based remake of the show, under the title Rabbit.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ DeadlineN “Ludwig, the British comedy drama starring David Mitchell, is getting a U.S. remake.” Read at Deadline ↗ Left · 1Variety says it is ABC's first pilot of this year. VarietyLC “The pilot, which marks ABC’s first of this year, hails from co-writers Megan Ganz and Humphrey Ker” Read at Variety ↗ Left · 2Megan Ganz and Humphrey Ker are the writers, and 20th Television is the studio. Ganz is under an overall deal at the studio. VarietyLC “20th Television, where Ganz is under an overall deal, is the studio.” Read at Variety ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “It comes from writers Megan Ganz and Humphrey Ker (Mythic Quest) and 20th Television.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Mixed · 2Jon Steinberg and Dan Shotz, who work on 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians', are executive producers. So are 'Ludwig' creator Mark Brotherhood, 'Ludwig' star David Mitchell and Big Talk's Kenton Allen. DeadlineN “David Mitchell, Mark Brotherhood and Big Talk boss Kenton Allen will also exec produce.” Read at Deadline ↗ VarietyLC “Steinberg is the co-creator, executive producer, and showrunner on the Disney+ series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians.”” Read at Variety ↗ Left · 2According to the logline, 'Rabbit' follows Mark, a reclusive puzzle writer known as 'Rabbit'. After his homicide detective twin brother goes missing, he poses as his brother in the Cambridge, Massachusetts, police department to investigate the disappearance. He then becomes an unlikely crime-solving sensation thanks to his ability to solve impossible puzzles. The Hollywood ReporterLC “Mark is pulled from his solitary life and thrust into the Cambridge, Massachusetts, police department” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ VarietyLC “Mark discovers that his uncanny ability to solve impossible puzzles makes him an unlikely crime-solving sensation.” Read at Variety ↗ Mixed · 2'Ludwig' is set in Cambridge, England. In it, David Mitchell plays John Taylor, a reclusive puzzle maker who poses as his missing brother. The Hollywood ReporterLC “Ludwig, incidentally, is set in Cambridge, England.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ DeadlineN “Ludwig stars Mitchell as John Taylor, a reclusive puzzle maker who pretends to be his brother when he goes missing” Read at Deadline ↗
Mixed · 2'Ludwig' debuted on the BBC in 2024. The Hollywood Reporter says it drew 9.5 million viewers in its first month and won best comedy series at the 2025 International Emmys. Deadline says the second-season premiere was watched by more than 9 million viewers and made it Britain's most-watched show of 2026. The Hollywood ReporterLC “drawing 9.5 million viewers in its first month” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ DeadlineN “the most-watched show in Britain in 2026 after the premiere episode of season two was watched by more than 9M viewers” Read at Deadline ↗ Mixed · 2The BBC has renewed 'Ludwig' for a third season and a Christmas special, and it returns to BritBox on 13 October, according to Deadline. The Hollywood Reporter notes it streams on BritBox in the US. DeadlineN “Ludwig, which has been renewed for a third season and a Christmas special by the BBC, returns to BritBox on October 13.” Read at Deadline ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “Ludwig streams on BritBox in the United States.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Centre · 1Deadline places the order among other US remakes of European formats, including ABC's 'High Potential', based on the French series 'HPI'. DeadlineN “ABC has High Potential, renewed for a third season, based on French series HPI.” Read at Deadline ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Trade-press scoop-style reports on the pilot order, with a focus on the creative team and their credits.
- Emphasis
- Writers' and producers' credits, agency representation, and the original show's ratings and awards (Hollywood Reporter).
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither mentions the wider trend of US remakes of European formats.
- For example
-
“ABC has ordered a drama pilot that is based on the popular BBC One series “Ludwig,” Variety has learned.” — Variety
“Ludwig debuted on the BBC in 2024 and became a breakout hit” — The Hollywood Reporter
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Deadline presents the order as part of a trend of US remakes of European series.
- Emphasis
- Ludwig's UK ratings, the renewal and the comparison with other US remakes.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give agency representation, and does not note that this is ABC's first pilot of the year.
- For example
-
“Rabbit marks the latest European format to be remade in the U.S. in recent years.” — Deadline
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- ABC has ordered a pilot called 'Rabbit' based on the BBC series 'Ludwig'.
- Megan Ganz and Humphrey Ker are writing it for 20th Television.
- David Mitchell, Mark Brotherhood and Kenton Allen are among the executive producers.
- The logline moves the story to the Cambridge, Massachusetts, police department.
-
ABC has ordered a drama pilot called 'Rabbit', based on the BBC series 'Ludwig'.
Reported- Reports 3
- The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Deadline
-
Ludwig creator Mark Brotherhood, star David Mitchell and Big Talk's Kenton Allen will executive produce the Rabbit pilot.
Reported- Reports 3
- The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Deadline
-
20th Television is the studio behind the Rabbit pilot.
Reported- Reports 3
- The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Deadline
ABC organisation
ABC has ordered the pilot; coverage quotes no ABC statement.
“The network has ordered a pilot for a U.S.-based remake of the show, under the title Rabbit.” — The Hollywood Reporter
Megan Ganz person
Ganz co-writes and executive produces the pilot, and is under an overall deal at 20th Television.
“20th Television, where Ganz is under an overall deal, is the studio.” — Variety
Left2 articles
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ABC Orders Drama Pilot ‘Rabbit’ Based on UK Series ‘Ludwig’ From Megan Ganz & Humphrey Ker
Neutral Scoop-style report that lists the creative team's credits.
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American ‘Ludwig’ Adaptation Nabs ABC Pilot Order
Neutral Straightforward pilot-order report that stresses Ludwig's ratings and awards.
Centre1 article
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‘Ludwig’ Remake ‘Rabbit’ Lands Pilot Order At ABC
Neutral Reports the order as the latest in a run of US remakes of European formats.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 8 Oct 19:00 First VarietyLC ABC Orders Drama Pilot ‘Rabbit’ Based on UK Series ‘Ludwig’ From Megan Ganz & Humphrey Ker
- 8 Oct 19:00 First DeadlineN ‘Ludwig’ Remake ‘Rabbit’ Lands Pilot Order At ABC
- 8 Oct 19:00 First The Hollywood ReporterLC American ‘Ludwig’ Adaptation Nabs ABC Pilot Order
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.