THE APEX TIMES
ABC developing police drama “The Undertaker” based on Swiss series “Der Bestatter,” from Gabriel Garza and Hanelle Culpepper
The network is in development on a drama that follows a former detective who takes over his family’s funeral home, drawing from the European hit “Der Bestatter.”
ABC is developing a new hourlong drama, “The Undertaker,” expanding its slate of scripted series with a police-procedural concept tied to the Swiss series “Der Bestatter,” Deadline reported on Aug. 28.
The project is being developed by writer Gabriel Garza and director Hanelle Culpepper, with 20th Television and Elevate Entertainment attached, according to the report. Garza is known for work including “The Winchesters” and “The Flash,” while Culpepper has directed episodes for series such as “Paradise” and “Star Trek: Picard,” Deadline said.
Deadline described the series as centering on Luke Conrad, a former police detective who takes over his family’s funeral home business. The premise combines law-enforcement investigation with the domestic and business realities of running a family institution, positioning the funeral home setting as a recurring narrative anchor.
The announcement also frames “The Undertaker” as a procedural built around cases, drawing from “Der Bestatter.” In the Swiss original, the central figure works as an undertaker while also engaging with death-related investigations, a structure Deadline characterized as the basis for ABC’s adaptation.
Because the series is described as being developed, ABC has not indicated in the report whether it has moved to a full series order, how many episodes are planned, or when production would begin. Deadline’s exclusive focuses on the creative team, the source material, and the character concept.
If the project advances, the next public steps would typically include finalizing a script, assembling additional cast and production leadership, and determining whether ABC schedules the series for a future development or production cycle. Until those decisions are announced, the only confirmed elements remain the concept, the credited creative team, and the involvement of 20th Television and Elevate Entertainment.
The development also highlights ongoing network interest in adapting international formats into U.S. broadcast dramas, pairing an established European premise with a U.S.-oriented procedural framework and a character who bridges investigative work and a family-run funeral home business. No casting beyond the lead character concept was detailed in the report.
Why It Matters
- The announcement adds to ABC’s development pipeline with a procedural concept that integrates investigations and a family-run funeral home setting.
- International format adaptation can affect development timelines, since legal rights, script adaptation, and creative translation are key early steps before production decisions.
- The attached creative team, including Garza and Culpepper, indicates the network’s intent to shape the project around their prior scripted experience.
- If the series moves forward, it would expand the network’s scripted roster with a case-driven drama aimed at mainstream episodic audiences.
Key Facts
- ABC is developing the drama series “The Undertaker,” Deadline reported on Aug. 28.
- The series is a police procedural based on the Swiss series “Der Bestatter.”
- Writer Gabriel Garza is attached, with directing by Hanelle Culpepper.
- The concept follows Luke Conrad, a former police detective who takes over his family’s funeral home business.
- 20th Television and Elevate Entertainment are attached to the project.