NBC Gives Jennifer Lopez Drama Straight-to-Series Order
Credit: FOX
With the success of The Fosters on ABC Family, Jennifer Lopez is making a name for herself as an executive producer on television dramas. So it's no surprise that NBC wants in on the Latina's star-power. However, unlike The Fosters, Lopez will be far more involved in her latest project.
NBC has given Lopez's newest drama a straight-to-series order of 13 episodes. The show, titled Shades of Blue, will center on Harlee McCord (Lopez, in her first regular starring role in a TV drama), "a single mother and dirty cop recruited to work undercover for the FBI's anti-corruption task force. Part of a close-knit unit known for its conviction record, Harlee has become compromised by her colleagues -- all of whom also pitch in to help raise her daughter -- and finds herself faced with the moral dilemma of working against her cop brothers in order to redeem herself."
The production is set to begin in 2015 for air during the 2015-16 broadcast season. Adi Hasak (this weekend's No. 2 film at the box office, 3 Days to Kill) will write the script and serve as executive producer, alongside Lopez's American Idol colleague Ryan Seacrest and his fellow Ryan Seacrest Productions executive Nina Wass. Also on board as executive producers are Lopez, friend and colleague Elaine Goldsmith Thomas, and manager Benny Medina.
"Whether it's producing, acting, singing or any of her other many entrepreneurial activities, Jennifer is an extraordinary talent and life force, and we're delighted to be in business with her and Adi Hasak on this sophisticated show," said NBC Entertainment president Jennifer Salke in a statement. "We're especially excited that Jennifer is returning to her acting roots from such great movies as Out of Sight and we know that she will create this complicated character in a vivid way that will breathe new life into the cop show genre. Ryan Seacrest is part of the NBCU family and doing his first scripted drama series with us makes perfect sense."
Seacrest added: "Nina Wass loved the script from the moment she read it. When Elaine, Adi and Benny approached us about working on it, we jumped at the chance to collaborate with such amazing partners. The script is so powerful and ambitious, we can't wait to see Jennifer take on this remarkable role. Bob Greenblatt and Jen Salke's enthusiasm and support has been incredible, and we look forward to working with everyone at NBC."
It's been some time since Lopez has really gotten much of a chance to flex her acting muscles, so it'll be interesting to see what she brings to a TV setting as an actress.