The NBC Universal-owned production company Carnival Films (Downton Abbey) is in development with the BBC on a TV version of Francesca Segal's novel The Awkward Age. Helen Edmundson (An Inspector Calls, The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher) is writing the adaptation, which will be executive produced by Carnival's Gareth Neame, Nigel Marchant and Joanna Strevens, with Tara Cook as development producer. NBC Universal International Distribution will distribute the series worldwide.
"Francesca Segal's The Awkward Age is an extraordinary work in its sensitivity, honesty and ability to explore the many aspects of these deeply authentic characters," said Neame, who is also executive producing Julian Fellowes' Downton follow-up The Gilded Age. "We are delighted to have the perfect screenwriter to adapt this material in Helen Edmundson, who is deeply passionate about the book and bringing all of the strengths of the novel to screen."
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Mary J. Blige (Mudbound) will star in The Umbrella Academy, Netflix's upcoming live-action series from Universal Cable Productions based on the popular graphic novels written by Gerard Way and illustrated by Gabriel Bá, Deadline reported. Jeremy Slater is writing the adaptation, which also stars Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Ellen Page, Robert Sheehan and Aidan Gallagher.
The Umbrella Academy is executive produced by Steve Blackman, who will serve as showrunner, as well as Bluegrass Television and Mike Richardson and Keith Goldberg from Dark Horse Entertainment. Gerard Way will serve as co-executive producer.