Ilene Chaiken is putting the contract she re-upped this summer to good use. The “Empire” showrunner, writer, and EP is penning two new series for Fox, The Hollywood Reporter confirms. One is a medical drama with a script plus significant penalty commitment that’s being compared to “This Is Us,” and the other follows an FBI agent and has a put pilot commitment.
“Triage,” the medical drama, “follows two women’s lives during three distinct periods: in 2008, when they’re surgery interns at Stanford, and in 2018 and 2028, as they explore cutting-edge medical techniques and face both professional and personal challenges,” THR summarizes. “But despite many obstacles, their epic friendship is the one constant in each other’s lives they can count on.”
Chaiken is adapting “Triage” from consulting producer David Cornue’s material. She will also exec produce alongside Jenna Santoianni, Courtney Hazlett, Tom Lesinski, David Ellender, and Steven Marrs. Sonar Entertainment and OutEast Entertainment are producing with 20th Century Fox TV.
The other series, “Mrs. Otis Regrets,” “centers on FBI Special Agent Clementine Otis — wife, mother, patriot — who is in the midst of investigating a domestic terrorism threat when an affair with a prominent government official shatters her life and career at the Bureau. While her former lover endures little blowback from the revelation, Otis is publicly shamed and loses her job, her reputation, her credibility, potentially her family, and even her access to the one person that could help her thwart a huge violent incident.”
Chaiken created “Mrs. Otis Regrets” with Melissa Scrivner-Love (“Person of Interest”). Both will EP the series with the woman who inspired “Scandal,” Judy Smith. 20th TV is producing.
Best known as the creator of “The L Word,” Chaiken also exec produced, wrote for, and occasionally directed the pioneering Showtime series about a tight-knit group of lesbians in Los Angeles. She’s also set to EP the “L Word” reboot that’s in the works.
Chaiken penned the original script for “The Handmaid’s Tale” for Showtime. The adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel ended up going to Hulu, and Bruce Miller rewrote the script and took on showrunning duties. Chaiken is still credited as an executive producer on the critically-acclaimed feminist series but is not directly involved in its creative development.
Reality show “The Real L Word: Los Angeles,” Showtime doc “L Word Mississippi: Hate the Sin,” and ABC drama“Black Box” are among Chaiken’s other credits.
Season 4 of “Empire” airs Wednesdays on Fox.
