Gal Gadot, of Wonder Woman fame, has recently announced the most recent project from her and her husband Jason Varsano’s production company Pilot Wave. The two will be adapting the Israeli crime drama Queens for the U.S. market.
In terms of international shows to bring to the U.S., Queens seemed a rational choice, given that the series was the most watched series on the Israeli network HOT last year. In addition to Pilot Wave, HOT, Endemol Shine Israel, and Endemol Shine North America will all be involved in the project. The U.S. adaptation will be executive produced by Gadot and Varsano, along with producers from HOT and Endemol Shine.
The show follows two women who take over their family’s criminal dealings after the men of the family are murdered by a rival criminal group. Endemol Shine North America’s Sharon Levy commented on the unique tone of the show and the importance of the female representation the show provides: “Watching these women make bold decisions, hilarious mistakes and learn to lean on one another set against a thriller backdrop, gives this show such a unique spirit that we all fell in love with it immediately. It’s gratifying to see a series that treats women with a deft complexity, showcasing that our differences are the strengths that unite us.”
Gadot and Varsano released a joint statement expressing their enthusiasm for the project: “It is rare to find content that conveys characters in such a truthful way, while mirroring society. We are looking forward to bringing their story to the world and working with the Endemol Shine team on this project.”
Queens is not the first popular Israeli TV show to be adapted for a U.S. audience. The HBO show Euphoria was brought to the U.S. from Israeli earlier this year and was hugely popular, and that success may be something Queens will try to emulate. No release date for the U.S. adaptation has been announced, though the Israeli series has been picked up for a second season premiering in 2020.