FIRST WIVES CLUB Reboot Gets Second Life; Series Was to Star Megan Hilty

Paramount Network is partnering with Paramount Television to develop FIRST WIVES CLUB with critically acclaimed screenwriter Tracy Oliver attached.

The half-hour series is based on the popular 1996 film from Paramount Pictures, which featured Diane Keaton, Bette Midler and Goldie Hawn. Oliver most recently co-wrote the screenplay for the wildly successful film, "Girls Trip." Oliver earned the distinction of becoming the first African-American woman to write a movie that grossed over $100 million domestically. Her recent writing credits also include "Barbershop III" with "Black-ish" creator, Kenya Barris.

The series, like the film, will be based on New York City. It will follow a group of women who band together after their marriages fall apart, and who find strength in their sisterhood- and of course a little revenge.

Oliver is currently adapting the New York Times best-selling novel, "The Sun is Also a Star," for MGM and Warner Brothers, which she is also executive producing. Her television credits include Dan Fogelman's ABC comedy series "The Neighbors" and, most recently, the Starz drama series "Survivor's Remorse," on which she wrote for multiple seasons. In the digital space, she is also known for writing, producing and acting in the hit comedic webseries, "The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl."

Karen Rosenfelt, whose impressive credits include the "Twilight" saga and "The Devil Wears Prada," will executive produce. Dana Tuinier, Vice President, Development and Original Programming, Paramount Network and TV Land, will serve as the executive in charge of production and will oversee the project for the network.

Paramount Network debuts January 18, 2018.

A reboot of the movie was originally in development and picked up by TV Land. The project was to star Broadway's Megan Hilty as Kim, a divorced woman with an eight-year-old son and once-successful actress who has since "aged-out" of Hollywood. Ultimately however, the network elected to pass on the pilot. No word yet as to whether HIlty is still attached to star.

A musical stage version of FIRST WIVES CLUB, featuring music and lyrics by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland, premiered in San Diego, California in 2009, with a book by Rupert Holmes. A reworked version had a production in Chicago, in 2015, with a new book by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason. It is expected to make its way to Broadway. The principal cast in the San Diego production originally included Karen Ziemba as Annie, Adriane Lenox as Elise, Barbara Walsh as Brenda, John Dossett as Aaron, Kevyn Morrow as Bill, Brad Oscar as Morty, Sara Chase as Trophy Wife, and Sam Harris as Duane. Lisa Stevens choreographed, with scenic design by Peter J. Davison and costumes by Paul Tazewell.