Netflix Orders YA Drama Based on Novel ‘My Life With the Walter Boys’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Joe Otterson
·1 min read

Netflix has ordered a series based on the Ali Novak YA novel “My Life With the Walter Boys,” Variety has learned exclusively.

The streamer has given the drama series a 10-episode order, with episodes set to be approximately 50 minutes each. In the coming of age show, following the loss of her family in a tragic accident, 16-year old Manhattanite Jackie Howard has to learn to adapt to a new life in rural Colorado with her guardian – and 12 very rowdy kids. The book was originally published in 2014.

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Melanie Halsall will adapt the book for the screen in addition to serving as showrunner and executive producer. Ed Glauser will also executive produce via Komixx Entertainment, which previously produced the two Netflix films “The Kissing Booth” and its sequel. A third film in the franchise is due out later this year. Komixx will produce along with Sony Pictures Television International Productions.

Netflix has made a concerted push into the YA space in recent years, with multiple shows currently on the air. Among those are popular entries like “Outer Banks,” “Ginny & Georgia,” “Atypical,” and “The Baby-Sitters Club.” Variety exclusively reported in June that the Netflix teen drama “Grand Army” had been canceled after one season.

Other recent Netflix series orders include a workplace comedy set in the front office of the Los Angeles Lakers organization. Mindy Kaling is set to executive produce that project with Elaine Ko attached to write the script. Jeanie Buss, president of the Lakers, will also executive produce along with Lakers executive director Linda Rambis.

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