Scripted

International entertainment studio MFF & CO and Latin American media powerhouse Globo have revealed the writers attached to three projects currently in development as part of their partnership to adapt a curated slate of iconic Brazilian daytime and primetime telenovelas for the North American market.

The creative lineup brings together high-profile U.S. showrunners tasked with reimagining some of Globo’s most successful titles for new audiences. Alexander Maggio ("Homeland") has been selected to adapt "Empire", winner of the 2015 International Emmy® Award for Best Telenovela. The story follows a self-made diamond tycoon whose powerful family empire begins to unravel amid betrayal, when the return of his estranged daughter threatens to expose long-buried secrets.

Jenny Lynn ("Mayans M.C.") will adapt "The Other Side of Paradise", an international hit that was licensed in 85 countries. The telenovela centers on a young Brazilian teacher who is falsely accused by her mother-in-law and committed to a psychiatric hospital as part of a plot to seize her family’s emerald-rich land. Years later, she returns as a wealthy woman determined to reclaim her life and seek justice.

Ted Sullivan ("Riverdale") is attached to adapt "King of Cattle", an epic saga revolving around a decades-long land dispute between rival immigrant families and a powerful rancher who falls in love with a mysterious laborer—later revealed to be his long-lost cousin.

The attachment of this talent marks a significant step forward in the development of the slate, reinforcing the creative ambition behind reimagining Globo’s most celebrated stories for the U.S. market.

Estela Renner, Showrunner, Director, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of MFF & CO, states, “This marks a pivotal moment for our projects and partnership with Globo. These accomplished writers are fully equipped to transform these audience-proven Brazilian stories into series that truly resonate with global audiences. Globo’s telenovelas have always captured the cultural pulse of the moment, reflecting the depth of human emotion. Our creative challenge is to preserve that emotional intensity while reimagining these narratives through a contemporary lens for North American viewers.”

Angela Colla, Head of International Business and Coproductions of Globo, said, “This next phase of our partnership with MFF & CO represents an important evolution in how we bring Globo’s stories to the world. Having such accomplished writers attached to these projects reinforces the strength, relevance and adaptability of our content. These are stories that have already proven their emotional power with millions of viewers, and we are confident they can resonate just as deeply when reimagined for new audiences.”

Miura Kite, President of Global Content of MFF & CO, adds, “The attachment of these talented writers puts tested creative muscle behind the ambition of this slate. Each of them brings a distinctive auteurial voice and deep experience to this high-impact serialized storytelling. Their skill will leverage the DNA of Brazilian telenovelas into premium, multi-season series for the U.S. market. We’re building shows with rich emotional stakes, complex characters and addictive storylines designed to compete at the highest levels of global television.”

Additional titles included in the adaptation slate are "Belíssima", a classic telenovela created by Silvio de Abreu, and "All the Flowers" ("Todas as Flores"), a fast-paced melodrama by João Emanuel Carneiro ("Brazil Avenue").

Development across the slate continues under the leadership of Miura Kite, President of Global Content at MFF & CO, who is working closely with Globo and U.S.-based creative teams to translate these iconic stories into traditional multi-season series for North American audiences.