Fox 21 to produce Renee Zellweger’s “Cinnamon Girl” TV pilot for Lifetime

PanARMENIAN.Net - After an intense bidding war, Fox 21 has closed a deal to produce Renee Zellweger’s “Cinnamon Girl” TV pilot for Lifetime, with a budget around $6 million, described as the highest cost ever for a basic cable pilot, TheWrap said.

Lifetime has licensed the rights for U.S. television, and will pay about half of the production cost.

Others bidding for producing rights included Warner Horizon Television and Universal Cable Productions.

Lifetime bought the drama pilot, which Zellweger co-created and co-wrote, and risked a $600,000 penalty if they did not make it.

Lifetime chief Nancy Dubuc was convinced the show could become a signature for the network, similar to "Mad Men" on AMC or "Glee" on Fox.

Lifetime reportedly considered producing it and retaining the ownership. But given the setting of 1960's Los Angeles and the theme – music - they decided to find a studio to produce the project and to distribute it internationally.

The show is expected to find and create ingenue musical stars similar to what "Glee" and "American Idol" have done. The producers will retain multiple rights over licensing, music sales and concert appearances for the show's talent.

Zellweger co-created “Cinnamon Girl” with Anthony Tambakis (“Warrior”). The story combines Zellwegger’s own journey from Texas to Hollywood, and Tambakis’ interest in the late 1960’s music and movie scene around Laurel Canyon and New Hollywood.

The story revolves around four girls and explores their lives at this turning point in cultural history. Allie MacDonald, Alexis Knapp, Brooke Anne Smith, Jade Bartlett and Sebastian Piggott signed on to the project earlier this month.