Latest in UCP

Hulu is developing Murdaugh Murders, a crime story about a real-life family made infamous by Mandy Matney’s popular Murdaugh Murders podcast. Deadline first reported on the project in April when it was picked up by UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group. The series aims to be the definitive…

UCP and Universal Television, divisions of Universal Studio Group, have each brought in an SVP-level development executive. Lee Daniels Entertainment President Marc Velez has been named SVP, Head of Development, for UCP, reporting to Jennifer Gwartz, EVP of UCP. Former Netflix executive Naketha Mattocks…

Jenna Bush Hager and her UCP-based banner are developing a series adaptation of Jamie Ford's novel The Many Daughters of Afong Moy. The co-host of Today with Hoda & Jenna and daughter of former President George W. Bush will exec produce the adaptation with Ben Spector, who is president of film and television at the…

Get Lifted Film Co., the production company run by John Legend, Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorius, is getting into business with NBCUniversal. The company, which is behind series such as IFC and AMC comedy series Sherman's Showcase, has struck a scripted overall deal with UCP and a first-look deal for unscripted…

EXCLUSIVE: Writer-producer Francisca X. Hu is getting into business with UCP. Hu has signed an overall deal with UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, under which she will develop and produce projects for a variety of television platforms. Hu landed her first staff job on the final season of Fox’s Sleepy Hollow…

EXCLUSIVE: The true-crime story of the Murdaughs, which includes money, power, family drama, corruption, local politics, drugs and murder, is the subject of a drama series, which is in development at UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group. Michael D. Fuller (Locke & Key) and Erin Lee Carr (Britney vs Spears) will…

The Peacock limited series Dr. Death stars Christian Slater as Randy Kirby, one of the doctors who exposed Dr. Christopher Duntsch (Joshua Jackson)'s malpractice. Series creator Patrick McManus said the real Dr. Kirby was very sure of the story's merits for television. “I will tell you that my very first phone call…

EXCLUSIVE: Tanya Saracho (Vida), Gabriela Revilla Lugo (Whiplash, Palm Springs), and Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building, 13 Reasons Why) are developing the single-camera comedy 15 Candles, a reconfiguration of the world of John Hughes‘ 16 Candles.  The half-hour series—from UCP for Peacock—follows four young…

Universal Studio Group has made permanent the interim roles held by Beatrice Springborn and David O’Donoghue, with Springborn becoming President of UCP and Universal International Studios and O’Donoghue taking on the Head of Universal International Studios post. Universal Studio Group Chairman Pearlena Igbokwe said…

EXCLUSIVE: Lan Samantha Chang's novel The Family Chao is getting a series adaptation after Sam Esmail and UCP optioned the rights to the book. Esmail will develop the adaptation via his Esmail Corp. banner, which has a deal at the Universal Studio Group division. He will exec produce alongside Chad…

Sam Esmail's adaptation of Fritz Lang's classic 1927 film Metropolis finally is coming to the small screen. The streamer has handed a series order to the project, which comes out of the Mr. Robot creator's massive overall deal at UCP. It will be written and directed entirely by Esmail, who also is behind Starz's upcomi…

EXCLUSIVE: Showrunner Tanya Saracho and UCP (a division of Universal Studio Group) have selected 5 inaugural fellows for the Ojalá Ignition Lab: Diana Peralta, Luca Rojas, Melba Silwany, Samantha Renee Cordero, and Stephanie Adams-Santos. Over the course of 26-weeks—beginning Jan. 11—, each fellow will have the…