EXCLUSIVE: A sought after drama project from The Loudest Voice co-creator Alex Metcalf has landed at HBO for development. Titled Baby Queen, it is based on the upcoming debut novel of the same name by southern crime fiction writer Ty Landers. The book became a hot commodity; its rights sparked a 10-way bidding war won by Michael Ellenberg’s Media Res (The Morning Show) which set up the project at HBO with Jessica Rhoades‘ Pacesetter (Black Mirror) also producing.
Written by Metcalf based on Landers’ novel, Baby Queen centers on Natalie Link who returns home to take over her family’s honey business — but when a body is discovered on the property, three generations of women are forced to confront the secrets, betrayals, and buried crimes that haunt their Southern legacy.
The novel is set in Landers’ home state of Alabama.
Metcalf executive produces the thriller alongside Rhoades and Alison Mo Massey of Pacesetter and Ellenberg and Lindsey Springer of Media Res. Pacesetter’s Mark Kinsella is co-executive producer. Media Res is the co-studio.
Metfcalf previously worked with Rhoades as consulting producer on HBO’s Sharp Objects and Prime Video’s Utopia, which she executive produced. Metcalf most recently served as executive producer/showrunner on the Netflix series Bodkin. Rhoades also executive produced Max’s Station Eleven.
This is former HBO head of drama Ellenberg’s second high-profile sale to the WBD network in the past couple of months, along with The Band, starring and executive produced by Ben Stiller. At HBO, Media Res, which has received an investment from Redbird IMI, previously produced Scenes From a Marriage, starring Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac.
Media Res’ current slate includes the Emmy- winning Apple drama The Morning Show, which is headed into its fourth season. Coming up are The Miniature Wife at Peacock, starring Matthew Macfadyen; corporate thriller Thumblte at Netflix, starring Rosamund Pike; and several projects in advanced development including bisexual romance drama Enigma Variations at Netflix starring Jeremy Allen White.
Landers’ short stories have appeared in Popshot Quarterly, In Shades Magazine and Fjords Review.
Metcalf is repped by UTA, Untitled Entertainment and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole. Rhoades is repped by UTA and Jackoway Austen Tyerman. Media Res is repped by WME.
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