OPRAH BRINGING SENSUAL PILOT TO HBO: Harpo Films behind series about a woman who leaves perfect marriage for seedy life in LA.

       The pilot is reportedly a high priority at HBO. The idea was pitched by Harpo Films president Kate Forte, who brought it to HBO president Sue Naegle for her consideration, reports Variety.      

       "It is unsentimental and pretty shocking, and there is something complicated and destructive driving her," Forte said. "It is literally a day at the pool, where she gets up, in sarong and flip-flops, and walks out of her life, leaving everyone behind so abruptly that her husband and kids initially think she's been kidnapped or murdered."       

       The pilot is being written by Erin Cressida Wilson, best known for penning the 2002 indie picture "Secretary," which starred James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal in the story of a boss-secretary relationship that veers into S&M.

       Harpo Films previously set at HBO "Ida Tarbell," a miniseries about the true-life muckraking journalist who helped expose the unfair practices of John D. Rockefeller and his Standard Oil monopoly.  On the film side, Harpo Films is producing for Focus Features a Sam Mendes-directed adaptation of the Joseph O'Neill novel "Netherland" and is partnered with Playtone for an adaptation of the David Wroblewski novel "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" at Universal.