ABC Buys Fashion Soap From Condé Nast & ‘Empire’ Exec Producer Sanaa Hamri

ABC has given a script commitment with significant penalty to Icon, a soapy fashion drama from Condé Nast Entertainment, whose parent company publishes the fashion-focused magazines Vogue and Glamour. Empire helmer/executive producer Sanaa Hamri is on board to direct. 20th TV, where Condé Nast has had a first-look deal, is the studio.

British scribe Anne Marie O’Connor (Trollied) writes the Icon script, which is described as a splashy, edgy soap set in the upscale world of fashion and centers on an up-and-coming designer whose rising star makes it more difficult to escape his inner demons.

O’Connor executive produces with Hamri and Condé Nast’s Dawn Ostroff and Jon Koa.

This is the second fashion industry-themed hourlong project ABC has in the works for next season, along with comedic drama House of Moore. The network has been trying to crack the fashion-world soap arena for years, with its efforts also including the 2012 pilot Americana starring Anthony LaPaglia.

O’Connor, who is actively developing a number of projects in the U.S., is repped by CAA, Silver Linings Entertainment, attorney Greg Slewett at Bloom Hergott Diemer Rosenthal Lavolett & Feldman and Robert Taylor at The Artists Partnership in London.