The phrase "a pilot based on" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a preliminary version of a project, show, or study that is derived from a specific source or concept.
Example: "The network is developing a pilot based on the success of the original series."
Alternatives: "a prototype derived from" or "a trial inspired by".
Since Mr. Romano had never acted before, Mr. Rosenthal said, he wrote a pilot based on the comedian's actual family situation to make him comfortable.
Commander Speicher, a pilot based on the aircraft carrier Saratoga, disappeared on the first night of the war when his F-18 went down over Iraq.
I got a call saying that someone wanted me to audition for a pilot based on the backstage life of Mark Wahlberg.
Situations like Nancy's have now become common enough for Showtime to commission Ms. Loomer to write a pilot based on her play, which has productions scheduled for Minneapolis, Seattle and Kansas City, Mo.
They started writing, and by the end of that week handed a 23-page outline to Mr. Braun, who then did something he had never before done - he approved a pilot based on nothing more than a treatment.
Mr. Werner said he could see the cartoon being turned into "an R-rated 'Seinfeld.' " With the help of his new admirers, Mr. Dildarian sold a pilot based on his short cartoon to Fox, but the network passed on the show for its 2007-8 season.
In 1948 he created a television pilot based on one of his most popular radio shows, the story of Grimaldi the melancholy clown.
Meanwhile, Jack Donaghy Alec Baldwinn) offers Liz Lemon Tina Feyy) a chance to create a television pilot based on her "Dealbreakers" sketch but Liz decides to search for other offers.
In this 30 Rock episode, Jack offers Liz a chance to create a television pilot based on her "Dealbreakers" sketch and although Liz decides to search for other offers she ultimately decides to work on the pilot with Jack.
Sacca may not be leaving the screen anytime soon, however, as he's playing himself in a television pilot based on The Startup Podcast, a popular online radio show produced by Gimlet Media, in which Sacca is an investor.
He also created a cartoon pilot based on his childhood stories that has attracted interest from one of the four major networks.
