'Contagion's Creator Scott Burns' National Anthem Bags Order

It is indeed amazing and rather eerie how the 2011 film Contagion finds new-found relevance in current times, the film's writer, Scott Z. Burns, is doing something a bit lighter in the TV space as his next act.

AMC on Tuesday announced that it has picked up National Anthem, a musical anthology series from Burns, Breaking Bad's Mark Johnson, T Bone Burnett and the Hold Steady frontman Craig Finn. Johnson will oversee via his new overall deal with the basic cable network.

National Anthem is described as the tragically funny story of a middle-class midwestern family tumbling down the ladder of American society; periodically bursting into song as they struggle to catch themselves.

“National Anthem is a family drama with deep resonant things to say about the fragility of our country, our world and our planet. Plus … it’s a musical!  In Scott’s genius hands this results in a hugely original, intense, funny and moving piece of writing,” said Sarah Barnett, AMC Networks Entertainment Group and AMC Studios president. “We’re so happy to work with Scott as he brings this unique story to life and absolutely delighted to continue our creative partnership with Mark, who we have been so lucky to work with on some of the most critically acclaimed series over the last decade.”