Leder flies back to Fox for pilots

Emmy winning helmer signs pact with net

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

Leder

Helmer-producer Mimi Leder has returned to Fox, where she recently signed a new deal to direct and exec produce pilots.

Leder helmed the pilot to Fox's upcoming Warner Bros. TV drama "Jonny Zero," which bows Jan. 14. She'll also exec produce the skein, along with John Wells, Llewellyn Wells and scribe R. Scott Gemmill.

Leder, whose films include "The Peacemaker," "Deep Impact" and "Pay It Forward," previously held a deal with Fox in 2001 that led to the drama "John Doe," which she exec produced.

Last season, Leder -- who recently signed with ICM -- had a development deal at UPN, which led to the pilot "Cult-A-Mania," written by her brother Reuben and based on the life of their father, B-movie director Paul Leder.

Leder was also set up at one point with Imagine TV, where she exec produced short-lived ABC drama "The Beast."

Helmer's TV credits include two Emmys for her work on "ER," including one for directing the classic episode "Love's Labor Lost." She also earned four Emmy noms for directing the drama "China Beach."