According to The Hollywood Reporter, Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana, riding high on the awards season range with their script for Brokeback Mountain, have set up an ensemble drama TV project at ABC and Touchstone TV.

Tentatively titled Sheriff Luke, the project centers on a sheriff -- a widower and Gulf War veteran with two teenage children -- in a small Midwestern town beset by such urban ills as illegal immigration and illicit drug use and dealing. The project was originally brought to the network and studio more than a year ago by Francie Calfo, ABC's executive vp development and current programming. But because of pre-existing commitments, including the upcoming CBS miniseries Comanche Moon, McMurtry and Ossana have not had the time to pen the script, which is now slated to be developed for the 2007 pilot crop.