A New Crime Series on the Horizon
HBO Max is currently working on a new crime series titled Welcome to Catalina, which is inspired by the streamer’s successful show The White Lotus. This project brings together a team that has already proven their talent on screen, a source novel that is designed for long-term success, and a network strategy that is eager to find its next big procedural hit. The television industry is now closely watching whether Catalina Island is ready for its moment in the spotlight.
While The Pitt demonstrated that high-volume procedurals can dominate streaming, HBO Max is now testing if lightning can strike twice with Welcome to Catalina.
David E. Kelley and Michael Connelly Join Forces
According to Deadline, Welcome to Catalina is in development at HBO Max, with David E. Kelley writing and executive producing alongside Michael Connelly. The project is based on Connelly’s 2024 bestseller Nightshade and follows a similar format to The Pitt, featuring roughly 15 episodes per season, an annual release schedule, and a moderate budget aimed at long-term sustainability. Kelley was a deliberate choice; the streamer’s procedural model specifically targets creators with extensive broadcast experience, and few have delivered more network-scale television than Kelley.
As for who will portray Detective Stilwell on screen, the production team is already in place, even without a cast announcement. Kelley executive produces alongside Matt Tinker, Barry Jossen, Tana Jamieson, Ross Fineman, and Connelly himself. HBO Max serves as the lead studio, with A+E Studios co-producing, and the same The Lincoln Lawyer team reassembled for Connelly’s newest detective.
What Welcome to Catalina is About and Why the Setting Matters
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Detective Stilwell has been effectively banished from mainland policing and reassigned to Catalina Island, a place better known for tourist sunburns than serious crime. His days consist of dealing with drunk-and-disorderlies and petty thefts, hardly the career highlight reel he envisioned. That changes entirely when a body surfaces from the harbor floor, weighted down and clearly placed there deliberately, pulling Stilwell into an investigation that the island’s postcard exterior was never meant to expose.
Just as The Pitt received a Season 3 renewal before its second season had aired a single episode, HBO Max is clearly treating Welcome to Catalina as a long-game investment rather than a one-season experiment. The streamer wants procedurals that audiences return to annually, and Michael Connelly’s Nightshade is the first book in a planned Catalina series, meaning Detective Stilwell’s story is built for exactly the kind of multi-season runway HBO Max is chasing with this model.
Looking Ahead
As the production muscle quietly locks in, the real question is what exactly awaits Detective Stilwell beneath Catalina’s deceptively calm waters. With a strong creative team, a compelling source material, and a strategic approach, Welcome to Catalina has the potential to become a significant addition to HBO Max’s lineup.
