'Homeland' team sells Middle East dictator show to FX

The producers of Showtime’s Homeland are going back to the Middle East.

FX has ordered a pilot called Tyrant from producers Howard Gordon and Gideon Raff along with Lost writer Craig Wright. The show follows a family that gets drawn into turbulent Middle East politics when the dictator of an Arab state dies and his American son becomes the new head of the country.

FX seems very excited about this one. The network’s executive vp of programming Nick Grad said: “The brilliant and wholly original concept just blew us away. It’s pretty amazing when you read a script and can instantly imagine it becoming one of the best shows on television.” Added studio Fox 21 president Bert Salke: “This script has excited everyone who’s read it.”

Gordon and Raff will executive produce the drama, with Wright scripting the pilot and potentially serving as showrunner if the project receives a series order.