CBS Studios has announced that DeVon Franklin, a prolific producer, and actor, has secured two new scripted development projects for BET+ under his overall deal with the studio. Both projects will be executive produced by Franklin Entertainment.
The first project is a comedy titled “Played,” where Franklin himself will star as a TV personality. It follows the trials of a dysfunctional dater and has been written by Devon Shepard of “The Ms. Pat Show.” The project will be executive produced by Shepard, Franklin, Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon, and Andy Horne for Jesse Collins Entertainment. Jenna Nicholson from Franklin Entertainment will serve as co-executive producer.
The second project, “Closure,” is a family drama inspired by the life of baseball Hall-of-Famer Andre Dawson, who later became a funeral home owner. The show will air on BET and BET+ and has been written and executive produced by Jackie McKinley and Antonia March, co-executive producers of “The Neighborhood.” Samantha Corbin-Miller, who originally developed the project for CBS, will also executive produce. Nicholson will co-executive produce while Dawson serves as a consultant.
Franklin’s other projects for BET+ include the scripted drama “Kingdom Business,” currently in production for its second season. Franklin recently played a supporting role in Lionsgate’s “Jesus Revolution” and produced Searchlight’s “Flamin’ Hot,” set to premiere this month By Southwest Film & TV festival.
Corbin-Miller, who is an executive producer of Hulu’s “Mike,” will be involved in “Closure.” McKinley and March recently completed the second season of “The Ms. Pat Show” and are currently co-executive producers of “The Neighborhood.”
Franklin is represented by WME, Dinorah Pena at Bodega 7, and John Meigs at HJTH. Corbin-Miller is represented by Anonymous Content and attorney JR McGinnis at Felker, Toczek. McKinley and March are represented by Art Rutter at Critical Mass Management and Brad Rosenfeld at Culture Creative. Shepard is represented by Matt Ochacher at Nacelle Company and attorney Duncan Hedges. Collins is represented by UTA, the Collins Jackson Agency, and Stephen Barnes at Yorn, Levine, Barnes, Krintzman, Rubenstein, Kohner, Endlich & Gellman.
