Selena Gomez Is Putting Together a TV Series Described as a Latina 'Empire'

The show was inspired by a speech from Los Angeles-based high school student Ana Cobarrubias, who has been hired as a series consultant.

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Complex Original

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A TV drama described as "a Latina Empire" is currently in development at Freeform, the providers of fine television formerly known as ABC Family. Selena Gomez is attached to produce the untitled series alongside Aaron Kaplan, Deadlinereports. Kaplan, as previously reported, is also bringing a presumably great autobiographical Nicki Minaj series to the network.

The idea behind the Gomez-assisted series, Kaplan says, was inspired by Los Angeles high school student Ana Cobarrubias. Kaplan caught a speech by the student at the Zimmer Children's Museum Discovery Award Dinner last November, a speech that scored a standing ovation from the audience as the high school senior spoke candidly about her upbringing. After securing Gomez's as a producer on the project, Kaplan enlisted Cobarrubias as a series consultant.

Influenced by Cobarrubias' life story, the new Freeform series centers on an 18-year-old girl from a low income Latino neighborhood as she discovers she’s "destined for greatness." With a network and producers officially set, Freeform is now tasked with finding a writer and confirming a cast. Though the series will boast Selena Gomez as an executive producer, the Spring Breakers endurer is not expected to star.

Back in October, Selena Gomez followed up her smash Revival album with news that she was in "final negotiations" with Netflix to executive produce and star in a miniseries version of 13 Reasons Why. That series, based on the 2007 novel of the same name, was originally in development as a feature film. 13 Reasons Why, as noted by Variety, marked Gomez's first executive producer credit.

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