WE TV Branches into Scripted Biz With Richard LaGravenese
WE TV has greenlit its first scripted series titled “The Divide” from “Behind the Candelabra” screenwriter Richard LaGravenese.
Cabler ordered 10 hourlong episodes of “The Divide” and plans to debut them next year. Project was originally developed and piloted at sister net AMC, and the WE TV series announcement comes on the heels of fellow AMC Networks-owned cabler Sundance Channel also entering into the scripted fray this year with “Top of the Lake” and “Rectify,” which was also initially developed at AMC.
“The Divide,” co-created by LaGravenese and Tony Goldwyn, centers on a case worker tasked with delving into the case of a death-row inmate she believes was wrongly convicted of the heinous murder of a family.
Marin Ireland will co-star in “The Divide” with Damon Gupton. AMC Studios is producing the skein, with LaGravenese, Goldwyn and John Tinker exec producing.
“‘The Divide’ gives WE TV the opportunity to enter the scripted space with a truly engaging series. It will join other series such as ‘The Walking Dead,’ ‘Low Winter Sun,’ ”Mad Men’ (all AMC) and ‘Rectify’ (Sundance Channel) that AMC Networks has developed or produced in our commitment to telling distinctive stories and bringing viewers quality, cinematic entertainment,” said Ed Carroll, chief operating officer of AMC Networks.
Additionally, WE has three other scripted projects in development:
ALL AMERICAN WOMAN (working title)
America: 1964. 1988. 2013. Three years set in distinctive decades that changed the cultural landscape of the country forever. In All American Woman, the lives of three unique and compelling women unfold against the backdrop of one common thread – All American Woman magazine. All American Woman is executive produced by the Academy® Award nominated Chris and Paul Weitz (About a Boy) and Andrew Miano through Depth of Field productions, with Emmy® Award nominated executive producers/writers Josann McGibbon and Sara Parriott (Runaway Bride, The Starter Wife) and co-executive producer Jenni Ross. The project is from Fox Television Studios.
DIRTY
From writers Nancy Fichman and Jennifer Hoppe (Damages, Nurse Jackie) and executive producer Emmy® Award winner RJ Cutler (Nashville, September Issue), Dirty pairs Lucy – a successful financier who has fallen on hard times and is forced to live and work with her former housekeeper, Maize, in an unexpected and clever enterprise. The project is from Fox Television Studios.
HEADHUNTERS
Executive produced by Emmy® Award winner Tom Fontana (Homicide: Life on the Street, Oz, Copper) and Academy® Award winner Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Wag The Dog, Copper) and written by Susanna Styron (Borgia, Shadrach, 100 Centre Street). As generations of women are being encouraged to ‘lean in’ in new and innovative ways, Headhunters examines their attempts to confront the ambiguity and conflicting choices that surround their lives today.
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