ABC nears 'Gates' deal with Fox

Drama might be shot overseas

By CYNTHIA LITTLETON

ABC has cut a deal with Fox Television Studios and Little Engine for a 13-episode order of a drama dubbed "The Gates."

But the order is conditional on foreign financing coming through for the production, ABC said.

Pilot was penned by Richard Hatem and Grant Scharbo. Series is revolves around a cop who gives up his job in a major city to be chief of police in a planned suburban community, where he discovers there's more to the residents than meets the eye.

If the funding comes through, production will begin by the middle of next year.

There's rumbling that the series might be shot overseas, but that could not be confirmed late Wednesday.