ABC Looking to Build Rome in Taranus

ABC is quickly developing Taranus, a series that will chronicle the power struggle in Rome following the murder of Julius Caesar in 44 B.C.

The network is preparing the project to shoot in Rome in January as an eight-episode "limited series" they hope will lead to a longer run. The Roman epic is being executive produced by the Chicago team of Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, creator Thomas Wheeler and Chip Johannessen.

ABC hopes that a quick audience embrace will lead to a second season arc of 13 episodes or more. While ABC and Touchstone haven't issued an official thumbs up, they hired series veteran Johannessen to run the show, empowered line producers to secure soundstages in Rome and set episode delivery dates for the fall 2004-2005 season.

Wheeler has already written a bible for three seasons that cover Caesar's succession all the way up to Marc Antony's steamy alliance with Cleopatra. The major protagonist is Julius Caesar's 17-year old nephew, Octavius, who's unexpectedly named in Caesar's will as Rome's next leader. Caesar's murderers target Octavius, who flees with the help of gladiator slave/Caesar confidante Taranus, whose job is not only to protect the youth, but make a man and leader out of him.