EXCLUSIVE: Awesomeness has launched development on Blue Bloods (wt), a series adaptation of the best-selling same-name book series from Melissa de la Cruz, for which Jacquie Walters will serve as writer and executive producer.
Additional executive producers of the series will include Richard Abate (Manhunt, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi) for 3 Arts Entertainment, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein (Maze Runner franchise, The Spiderwick Chronicles) for The Gotham Group, and De La Cruz.
In the universe of Blue Bloods, New York City is secretly ruled by an elite class of immortal vampires. But when one of their own disappears, they are faced with an existential threat: an ancient and evil breed of vampire has returned. Amidst this chaos, 17-year-old Sky, the first half-human-half-vampire, faces her own challenges as a newcomer to the prestigious Duchesne Institute. Previously exiled from the Blue Bloods, Sky must now find her place in this society — and as she does, she begins to uncover a rising evil that threatens the very existence of The Coven. The question is: will she be the savior of vampire society or its doom?
In a statement on the project, De La Cruz said, “I am so excited to bring my beloved Blue Bloods series to life with a stellar team at Awesomeness, Gotham, 3Arts and our incredible writer Jacquie Walters who understands my story and characters deeply. Cannot wait to see them on screen at last!!! LFG!!!”
Stated Walters, “I am thrilled to be bringing Blue Bloods to life with Melissa and the teams at Gotham and Awesomeness. It is a rare treat to work on a project with such a loyal fanbase, and we have had so much fun reimagining this story for the present-day, as it is the juiciest combination of romance, mystery, and lore. Gotham’s passion paired with the exceptional vision of those at Awesomeness make a dream team to bring this story to the screen.”
EPs Abate and Goldsmith-Vein added, “Blue Bloods is a special book series that 3Arts and Gotham have carefully developed with the hope of finding the kind of success in television that the books enjoyed both critically and commercially. Jacqui Walters is our dream writer: equally adept at creating complex characters and building big memorable worlds.”
Known for her work in the YA and fantasy spaces, De La Cruz is also responsible for novel series like The Au Pairs and The Beauchamp Family, the latter of which was adapted into the Lifetime series Witches of East End. She’s also known for her middle grade series The Descendants, inspired by the same-name Disney Channel series, as well as the historical romance Alex & Eliza, based on the love story of Alexander Hamilton and Eliza Schuyler, among many other works. Previously, she’s also worked as a journalist, writing for outlets like The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, Teen Vogue, Harper’s Magazine and Marie Claire.
An Emmy-nominated writer who has sold five pilots in the last three years, Walters previously sold her pilot Wreckage to ABC with Timberman-Beverly producing and Marc Webb directing. In addition to staffing on David E. Kelley’s Big Shot, NBC’s multi-cam Abby’s, and Amazon’s Just Add Magic and The Kicks, she’s an author whose debut novel, Dearest, a psychological horror thriller about the early days of motherhood, will be published by Mulholland Books on September 17.
An L.A.-based studio owned by Paramount Digital Studios, a division of Paramount Global, Awesomeness has previously produced Hulu’s PEN15 and Light as a Feather, and Netflix’s Trinkets, among other series. On the film side, the company’s best-known credits include the To All the Boys franchise and the teen drama Before I Fall starring Zoey Deutch.
Walters is represented by 3 Arts Entertainment and Jackoway Austen Tyerman; De La Cruz by 3 Arts and The Gotham Group.
