Lionsgate, Joel Silver developing transgender drama

Lionsgate and Joel Silver’s prodco are developing New People, a family drama about a transgender girl and her family.

Independent US studio and movie producer Silver’s Silver Pictures Television confirmed they had a script/development deal and were working up the series for US cable net Freeform (fka ABC Family).

The series is based upon the bestselling Ellis Nutt novel Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family.

Silver, who has a first-look deal with Lionsgate, will exec produce the show if it is piloted or taken to series, alongside Rodney Ferrell, who runs Silver Pictures Television.

Don Roos (The Opposite of Sex) will pen the script, and will also exec produce.

With issues around gender in the news there are numerous TV shows examining the issues. I am Cait is the best-known example in the unscripted realm and, in scripted, Transparent has proved a breakout hit for Amazon Prime Instant Video.