‘Valentina’ Telenovela Adaptation At ABC Family Sets Daniel Barnz To Write, Direct

Filmmaker Daniel Barnz (Cake) has been tapped to write and direct Valentina, ABC Family’s adaptation of the RCTV telenovela Mi Gorda Bella Valentina, executive produced by Aaron Kaplan of Kapital Entertainment (Chasing Life) and Jorge Granier of RCTV International (Jane The Virgin).

Valentina, which ABCF put in development in February, is a comedic hour described as “Revenge meets Ugly Betty.” It’s about a young girl whose incredibly wealthy mother is killed in an accident. After the mother’s extended family takes over her company, Valentina realizes that her mother might have been murdered by her family for control of her business. Valentina, the sole heir to the empire, fears that she may be next so she disappears and returns 10 years later, looking totally different and set out for revenge against her family to take back what is rightfully hers.

Kaplan and Granier executive produce with Daniel Barnz and Barnz’s business partner/husband Ben Barnz (Cake) through their their We’re Not Brothers Productions.

Daniel Barnz, who directed the ABC pilot Mix this past season, is repped by WME.