Actress, stuntwoman, writer, and producer Miranda Kwok is working on a U.S. adaptation of Argentinian mob drama “La Chica Que Limpia” for Fox. The project, titled “The Cleaning Lady,” has received a script commitment from the network, Deadline confirms.
Kwok is writing, and will exec produce alongside Melissa Carter (“Queen Sugar”) and “Pretty Little Liars” alumna Shay Mitchell. “The Cleaning Lady” hails from Mitchell’s Amore & Vita Productions and Warner Bros. Television. It will be a co-production with Fox Entertainment should it move forward.
“The Cleaning Lady” sees a young Filipina doctor seeking medical treatment for her son in the States. “When the system fails and pushes her into hiding, she uses her cunning and intelligence to fight back,” the source teases. “After hitting rock bottom, she crosses into a world of moral grey, cleaning crimes scenes for the Russian mob, and eventually forges her own path to power, becoming an unexpected yet formidable player in the criminal underground.”
“La Chica Que Limpia” aired on digital platform Cine.ar Play in 2017. Irene Gissara and Lucas Combina penned the show.
“I’m really excited about the opportunity to tell a story that’s so relevant today,” said Kwok. “There are so many highly educated immigrants who move to the U.S. but are unable to pursue their professional vocations as doctors, lawyers, or engineers, and end up working as cab drivers, domestic workers, or security guards – if they’re employed at all. I think it’s important to share some of these stories so we can better understand the plight of those who are pushed into the shadows and marginalized,” she explained. “What drew me to this format is that it’s a story of empowerment, resilience, and the human spirit, all told from the perspective of an unlikely and complex hero.”
Kwok is a writer and supervising producer on “The 100.” She previously wrote for “Spartacus” and “Sanctuary,” developed international martial arts series “Empire of the Dragons,” and adapted Finland’s “Nymphs.” She did stunts for “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” among other projects and counts “Charmed” and “iMurders” among her screen credits.
Carter is exec producing “Stargirl,” the story of DC Comics’ character Courtney Whitmore, expected in 2020. She ran Season 1 of “Queen Sugar” alongside Ava DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey. Her other projects include “Mistresses,” “Jane by Design,” and “Famous in Love.”
You can see Mitchell next in Hulu comedy “Dollface,” premiering November 15. “You” and “The Possession of Hannah Grace” are among her screen credits.