J.J. Abrams near deal to direct NBC's 'Undercovers'

J.J. Abrams wants to take a hands-on approach to “Undercovers,” his pilot at NBC.

In addition to co-writing and executive producing the project with Josh Reims, Abrams is in talks to direct the Warner Bros. TV-produced pilot.

Schedule permitting, Abrams will make “Undercovers” the first TV pilot he has directed since 2004’s “Lost” opener. ABC’s two-hour “Lost” opening is considered one of the best-directed pilots of all time and helped launch Abrams’ feature career into helming such films as “Mission: Impossible 3”
and “Star Trek.”

Abrams has created and produced several TV shows but is not frequently in the director’s chair. He helmed the pilot and handful of episodes of his ABC spy drama “Alias” but hasn’t directed an episode of his latest series, the Fox sci-fi drama “Fringe,” which he co-created and executive produces.

Abrams also directed an episode of NBC’s “The Office” in 2007 and “guest directed” an episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” in 2006. NBC’s “Undercovers,” about a husband and wife working together as spies, has
been described as a mix between “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” and “The Bourne Identity.” WBTV had no comment