HBO and Adam Shankman Developing '60s-Era Gay Rights Series

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According to The Hollywood Reporter, HBO has picked up the script for Open City from executive producer and director Adam Shankman.

Open City is about the gay rights movement and cultural revolution of the 1960s. Set in New York City, the show will explore the relationship between the gay community and the Mafia as it opens a West Village nightclub.

The show will be written by David Kajganich, who penned the upcoming James Franco film, True Story, and directed by Shankman, whose last feature was the film adaptation of Rock of Ages. The series has also recruited Ronnie Lorenzo, one of the original owners of Stonewall Inn, to serve as a consulting producer.

The show pick up follows a series of gay-themed projects for the cable network. In addition to Looking and The Normal Heart and the upcoming documentary, The Case Against 8, HBO has ordered Open, a pilot from Ryan Murphy about the modern exploration of human sexuality, and cast Queen Latifah as rumored lesbian blues singer Bessie Smith.