Hallmark greenlights 'Crew Nine'

Hallmark Hall of Fame has greenlit "Crew Nine," a drama starring Cuba Gooding Junior. like a youth counselor who inspires troubled kids. Pic is going to be helmed by Darnell Martin ("Cadillac Records"), from the script by Ligiah Rental property-lobos ("Underneath the Same Moon"). Project would be the third Hallmark telepic to air on ABC underneath the certification deal the internet signed captured after CBS rejected to resume the franchise. The very first title to come under that deal, "Mitch Albom's Possess a Little Belief," airs Sunday. "Crew Nine" involves a counselor in a youth detention facility who trains kids to fight forest fires and profit the public throughout other disasters. Production starts this month in Atlanta. Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com