“Bridgerton” creator Chris Van Dusen is adapting “Girl Abroad,” the novel by bestselling author Elle Kennedy, into a TV series with A24 and Pacesetter producing.
The book, published in February, follows 19-year-old Abbey Bly, who jumps at the chance to study abroad in London in order to get some distance from her overbearing retired rock star father. The rights were acquired in a competitive situation.
According to its plot description, Abbey is “ready to be free, to discover herself – but first off, to meet the girls she’s rooming with. That is, until she arrives at her gorgeous new flat to discover those roommates are actually all boys. Charming, funny, insufferably attractive boys. And off-limits, with a rule against fraternizing between housemates after unwanted drama with the previous girl. Abbey has never considered herself a rulebreaker. But soon, she’s lying to her father about her living situation and falling for not one, but two men she can’t have: her rugby-player roommate and a broody musician with a girlfriend. Not to mention, her research for school has gotten her tangled in a deeply hidden scandal of a high nobility family, surrounding her in secrets on all sides.”
Van Dusen will serve as showrunner and executive produce through his CVD Productions, alongside A24 and Jessica Rhoades and Alison Mo Massey from Pacesetter. Kennedy, known for her “Off-Campus” series of novels, is also on board as an executive producer.
Van Dusen’s highly successful Regency era drama “Bridgerton” is about to premiere its third season on Netflix on May 16.
Deadline Hollywood was first to report news of the project.