Latest in UCP

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…

EXCLUSIVE: Writer-producer Brian Chamberlayne is getting into business with UCP with a new overall deal. Under the pact, Chamberlayne will develop and produce projects for a variety of television platforms for the Studio, a division of Universal Studio Group. "Brian is an exceptional talent with ambition for…

EXCLUSIVE: Oscar-winning writer-playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney, creator of the acclaimed series David Makes Man, has teamed up with actor-producer Glenn Davis, artistic director of Steppenwolf Theatre Company, to launch Chatham Grove, a production company which has inked an overall deal with UCP, a division of…

EXCLUSIVE: Elliot Page has signed a first-look deal with UCP to develop scripted and unscripted projects across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. The pact, which was competitive, expands the Oscar-nominated actor’s relationship with UCP, run by President Beatrice Springborn. Page stars in the studio’s hit…

Christina Ham, who was recently a supervising producer on HBO's Westworld, has struck an overall deal with UCP. The playwright and writer will develop and produce projects across platforms for the Universal Studio Group division. It comes after she worked with UCP on Rosa Salazar-fronted horror thriller Brand New Cherr…

A follow-up to Universal’s 1995 movie Waterworld, starring Kevin Costner, is in the works for the small screen. The project, which hails from original producer John Davis and his Davis Entertainment is in very early development at UCP, sources tell Deadline. Davis tells Collider, which first reported the project, that…