Pop sensation Selena Gomez and producer Aaron Kaplan are developing a new series for Freeform, formerly ABC Family. The untitled drama, described as the Latina “Empire,” will follow an 18-year-old aspiring entertainer living in a low-income Latino neighborhood.
The premise is inspired by the story of Ana Cobarrubias, a Los Angeles high school student who gave an inspiring speech at The Zimmer Children’s Museum Discovery Award Dinner last November. In the speech, the teen spoke of overcoming adversity in her community and emphasized the importance of social activism and following your dreams. Cobarrubias has been tapped to serve as a consultant on the show.
At the moment, Gomez is not set to star in the series.
Freeform is also developing another musically-inclined project, a show starring Nicki Minaj and based on her childhood.
Gomez will also serve as executive producer (along with her mother, Mandy Teefey and producer Kristel Laiblen) for the Netflix show “13 Reasons Why,” based on the YA novel by Jay Asher. The show follows the after-life of Hannah Baker, a high school student who committed suicide. She leaves behind a series of tapes that explain her peers’ roles in her death.
[via Deadline]
