Lionsgate has partnered with American Idol creator Simon Fuller (pictured) to develop a musical drama TV series chronicling a young California rock band, as the Canadian indie studio continues to grow its TV business.

TV and music entrepreneur and producer Fuller is the creator of hit franchise American Idol, and also serves as exec producer on talent-based reality series So You Think You Can Dance and Q’Viva!: The Chosen.

“Lionsgate’s growth has been built on our partnerships with some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the entertainment industry, and Simon Fuller is an entrepreneurial icon whose success in TV, film and music sets him in a class by himself,” said Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer and vice chairman Michael Burns in a joint statement.

The partnership marks a return for Fuller to scripted TV series after he executive produced Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, both of which spawned Canadian versions by CTV.

And Fuller is pacting with Vancouver-based Lionsgate after it found primetime success with dramas like Weeds and Mad Men, and more recently uncovered box office gold with The Hunger Games, also aimed at a young demo.

Lionsgate and Fuller are already leading a nation-wide search for young musician-actors to play the band members in the series, which is being shaped for both broadcast and cable outlets.

With files from Etan Vlessing