Hulu Signs First-Look Deal With 831 Stories
Disney is looking to expand its drama series lineup for Hulu by signing a new first-look deal with 831 Stories to develop new series based on its popular books.
831 Stories is a book publisher that offers romance fans a myriad of ways to engage with the genre, from monthly novella releases with ripped-from-the-pages product and bonus content, to community-driven programming and events, to a weekly podcast, Radio 831, that dives into the trends, topics, and news that have love-story lovers talking.
According to THR, the first project to be developed under this deal will be Alexandra Romanoff’s Big Fan book series, which follows a political strategist “tainted by a scandalous ex” who “finds an unexpected career detour when her teenage boy band crush offers a second chance at the spotlight…and maybe something more.”
20th Television will be producing the show for Hulu/Disney+, and it will be written by Michelle Nader, who has recently worked on “Shifting Gears” and “Deli Boys”. She will be an executive producer along with 831 Stories co-founders Claire Mazur and Erica Cerulo.
Roger’s Take: Disney is constantly on the lookout for inspiration and ideas for new films and shows, so signing first-look deals with publishing companies could be a great way of locking in talent for years to come. The big problem with these types of deals is that they often don’t come to anything, with projects taking a while to either eventually get made or never get off the ground. But fingers crossed, this first series is great, and the overall deal can then deliver some more “romance” for Hulu and Disney+.
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