Netflix has decided to order a ten episode season from Gossip Girl writer Josh Safran’s for his musical drama series Mixtape. The logline for the series is, “a romantic musical drama that looks at the love stories connecting a diverse, disparate group of people in contemporary Los Angeles through the music that lives inside their hearts and minds.” Originally, it was a show was in contention to be on FOX for the 2018-2019 broadcast season. However, just like with many shows for FOX this past spring, they decided to pass on the series.
While in contention to be on FOX, Mixtape was thought of as one of the front runners to be released by FOX. Even Sharon Klein (20th TV head of casting) stated that Callie Hernandez was going to be a “star” and a big get for the studio. However, because of the “New FOX’s” direction, 20th TV decided to try and shop the series. Mixtape did not fit their multicamera comedy and procedural mandate that the network was moving towards.
Most of the original cast is from the FOX pilot is going to return, which includes: Hernandez, Jahmil French, Jenna Dewan, Campbell Scott, Stowe, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Megan Ferguson, and Evan Whitten. The male lead, Sam, (Raul Castillo) will be recasted, as well as, possibly the child role of his young son. Because of this, some reshoots will be made on the pilot. Sam has to be recasted because Castillo has recently taken a recurring role in a Netflix comedy One Day at a Time.
The executive producers for the series are: Safran, Annapurna’s Megan Ellison, Sue Naegle, and Ali Krug.