Creator of the musical comedy series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Aline Brosh McKenna has signed an overall deal with ABC Studios to develop projects across their platforms. The first project being developed by Brosh McKenna will reportedly also have musical elements.
Brosh McKenna’s projects with ABC Studios will be developed by her newly launched production company Lean Machine, and will be distributed across ABC’s platforms. The first project being developed at Lean Machine is titled Hit, which will be a musical series in a similar vein to Brosh McKenna’s critically acclaimed comedy series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, co-created with the show’s star Rachel Bloom.
The series Hit is co-written by Brosh McKenna and Alden Derck, who previously worked on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and The Mindy Project. The show will tell the story of the struggles of a young pop star stuck in songwriting boot camp while she tries to finish her first album. Jennifer Kaytin Robinson of Someone Great and Sweet/Vicious will be directing.
In addition to co-creating Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Brosh McKenna has had prominent roles on a number of projects. She is most well known for her screenplay adaptation of the 2003 novel The Devil Wears Prada, and wrote screenplays for We Bought a Zoo, 27 Dresses and Morning Glory. ABC Studios President Jonnie Davis stated that the company is looking forward to what Brosh McKenna will bring to the studio. “Aline’s film and TV work is truly unique and exceptional… Anyone who can write for Meryl Streep and Rachel Bloom is someone we want to be in business with.”
Brosh McKenna also expressed her enthusiasm for the ABC deal. “I am so excited to be partnering with ABC Studios,” said Brosh McKenna. “Dana [Walden], Jonnie and the whole development team have so much passion for creating unique, quality television. I’m thrilled for the chance to continue working on projects I love. I hope Lean Machine will be a home for material that is character-driven, inclusive, human and which puts writers and writing at the center of the creative process.” More details as to what projects are in development at Lean Machine have yet to be announced.