Heather Mitchell Courtesy of PMK
'Still Star-Crossed' hails from 'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Scandal' writer Heather Mitchell.
Shondaland is ready to formally explore the world of William Shakespeare.
The production company has sold drama Still Star-Crossed to ABC, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The drama follows the conflict between the Capulets and the Montagues in the wake of Romeo and Juliet's deaths.
Heather Mitchell will pen the script and exec produce alongside Shondaland's Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers. The MrG Production Co.'s Michael R. Goldstein will also exec produce.
Still Star-Crossed, which hails from ABC Studios where Rhimes' Shondaland is under a rich overall deal, continues Mitchell's relationship with the company. Mitchell was a co-producer on Grey's Anatomy before moving to Scandal, where she has climbed the ranks and served as a writer, co-exec producer, supervising producer and more.
Still Star-Crossed comes as Rhimes' Scandal has often had elements compared to Shakespeare, including multiple themes as well as its rapid-fire dialogue.
For Shondaland, Still Star-Crossed marks the company's fourth sale this development season -- all at ABC. The network has also picked up a script for a brides of Christ drama; an Army medical soap set in Baghdad from Grey's Anatomy's Zoanne Clack as well as Splitsville, a divorce comedy from the creators of Trophy Wife.
Still Star-Crossed becomes the latest Shondaland project to reunite Rhimes with one of her disciples. Sophomore drama How to Get Away With Murder was created by Pete Nowalk and alum Jenna Bans has ABC drama The Family due midseason. Rhimes' Shondaland next has The Catch, also due midseason, which was developed by Jennifer Schuur and is now overseen by Grey's Anatomy and Scandal veteran Allan Heinberg.
Soaps have been the top trend this development season as broadcast networks have been heavily influenced by the success of hip-hop sudser Empire.
Mitchell is repped byUTA; Rhimes is with ICM Partners and Sloane Offer; Goldstein is with ICM Partners and Sloane Offer.
TV Development Shonda Rhimes
