Peacock has won the rights to develop Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas‘ upcoming novel “Climbing in Heels” into a TV series, Variety has learned.
Peacock has given the drama project a script-to-series commitment. It was first reported in December that Universal TV was taking the show to market, with Goldsmith-Thomas and Darren Star set to serve as co-writers and executive producers.
“I am thrilled that ‘Climbing In Heels’ was taken off the table so quickly by Peacock,” Goldsmith-Thomas said. “It is the perfect home for Darren and I to bring these fabulously complicated and colorful characters to life”
The official description of the show states that it is “a fictional tale following the rise of five ambitious secretaries navigating the glitzy world of 1980s Hollywood while offering a glimpse into the boys-will-be-boys club and the women who wanted a seat at a table where they were expected to serve.”
The novel will publish on April 29 via St. Martin’s Press.
“I’m so excited to be working with Elaine to bring her addictive novel ‘Climbing in Heels’ to the screen,” Star said. “I can’t wait for audiences to fall in love with these audacious and ambitious young women.”
“Climbing in Heels” will be the first show under Star’s new multi-year overall deal with UTV. He has a long track record as a hitmaker, including creating shows like “Sex and the City,” “Emily in Paris,” “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Melrose Place,” and “Younger,” more than one of which was also based on a novel. Star was also a producer on the two “Sex and the City” films, which collectively grossed over $700 million worldwide.
Star is repped by UTA and Ziffren Brittenham.
Goldsmith-Thomas is making her debut as a novelist with “Climbing in Heels,” while she was previously credited as the co-writer of the 2018 film “Second Act.” She is best known for her time as a groundbreaking agent at the William Morris Agency. In her time there, she repped massive stars like Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Madonna, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Spike Lee, and Nicholas Cage. She eventually rose to the rank of senior vice president at both The William Morris Agency and International Creative Management.
In 2000, she transitioned to working directly with Lopez as a producing partner and president of Nuyorican Productions. She has produced films like “Maid in Manhattan,” “Mona Lisa Smile,” “Hustlers,” and “Marry Me.” She is repped by CAA and Hirsch Wallerstein.
