Shonda Rhimes is getting behind another series project from a key writer-producer on one of her shows. In a competitive situation, ABC has nabbed Still Star-Crossed, a Romeo and Juliet sequel drama from Scandal co-executive producer Heather Mitchell.
Written by Mitchell, Still Star-Crossed is based on the book by Melinda Taub. Set in 16th century Verona after the events in William Shakespeare’s tragedy, it follows the conflict between the Capulets and the Montagues in the wake of Romeo and Juliet’s deaths. In the book, to end the family feud, Prince Escalus orders the most eligible Montague bachelor, Benvolio, Romeo’s best friend, to marry Juliet’s older cousin, Capulet maid Rosaline, the girl Romeo first loved. Mitchell executive produces with Shondaland’s Rhimes and Betsy Beers as well as The MrG Production Co.’s Michael R. Goldstein.
Mitchell, repped by UTA, first worked on Rhimes’ Grey’s Anatomy before joining Scandal after the pilo
t. She has written a number of episodes, including this season’s buzzed-about Episode 2 titled “Yes,” in which Olivia Pope admitted that she was the President’s mistress.
Two years ago, Shondaland backed the drama pitch of Peter Nowalk, another writer who had started on Grey’s before serving as a co-executive producer on Scandal. That project became ABC’s drama series How To Get Away With Murder, part of the network’s TGIT lineup along with Grey’s and Scandal.
Rhimes is repped by ICM Partners. Taub is with ICM Partners and Underground. Goldstein is with ICM Partners and Sloane, Offer.
That doesn’t sound even remotely interesting.
Maybe I’m wrong but as much as Shonda is doing for actors of color she sure likes helping white people get their own shows. The point being they don’t need the endorsement of the most powerful showrunner in television to sell a show but all the black writers on her staff that the network is ignoring probably do. I guess as much as she’s doing I still expect more from her which isn’t really fair. That said, I notice some black people don’t really go out of their way to help other black people which is what’s necessary to normalize, to use her word, television.
You are completely accurate on this statement
except not actually accurate.
Yeah, it is surprising that none of the writers of color on her shows have gotten a pilot order for their work.
Black, white, or purple…this sounds like a snoozer.
Yawn…