Via THR, Disney+ has been reported as ordering a straight-to-series request for a show based on YA author Becky Albertalli’s Leah on the Offbeat — the sequel to the book Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and its respective 2018 film adaptation, Love Simon. Disney+ has declined to comment on the news.
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda was the first published book for Albertalli, before she followed up with the 2018 sequel Leah on the Offbeat, which focused on Simon’s friend Leah as she tries to deal with the issues involved in growing up such as relationships, sexuality, self-esteem, and college life.
Love, Simon was considered to be the very first major studio produced film, that featured a gay teen romance at its center and served as a beacon of hope for teens struggling with their sexuality. The titular protagonist was played by Nick Robinson, with Katherine Langford as Leah, Jennifer Garner and Josh Duhamel as Simon’s parents; Keiynan Lonsdale, Alexandra Shipp and Jorge Lendeborg Jr. rounding out Simon’s group of friends.
Screenwriters Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker will serve as the series’ showrunners, with an all new cast in front of the camera. Greg Berlanti, director of the 2018 film, has been confirmed to not be returning due to his recent deal with Warner Bros. Television.
The decision to revisit Love, Simon comes after Disney acquired rights to the property through FOX 2000, in its recent highly publicized $71.3 billion Fox asset buy. The Elizabeth Gabler-run studio was notorious for focusing on female-focused mid-budget films — Walk the Line, The Devil Wears Prada, Hidden Figures, The Hate U Give and Love, Simon, being a part of an ongoing feature film list.