The Indian film actress and singer has signed a talent holding deal with ABC Studios, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Under the one-year pact, ABC will either develop a starring vehicle for Chopra or cast the actress in an existing project set for fall 2015.
The ABC deal comes after she had a voice role in the Disney animated feature Planes, sang the theme song to NFL Network's Thursday Night Football and was featured in a nationwide campaign for Beats By Dre. She also became the first woman of Indian descent to be named a Guess Girl.
ABC exec VP casting Keli Lee, who spearheads the network's diversity casting program, traveled to Mumbai to sign Chopra. The executive played a major role in casting Scandal's Kerry Washington, Modern Family's Sofia Vergara and Grey's Anatomy's Sandra Oh as part of the network's diversity push.
Chopra's talent deal comes as the network bet big on diversity this past pilot season with black- and Asian-American-led series including How to Get Away With Murder, Black-ish and Fresh Off the Boat, among others.
"To a storyteller, each platform of performance offers its own artistic challenges, and if you have a good story to tell, regardless of the platform, audiences will follow," Chopra said. "I've been a longtime fan of ABC shows like Scandal, and an admirer of how the network has changed the landscape of TV through the diversity of their lead characters. As an intrinsic creative, I am drawn to opportunities that test me in new ways. I’m honored by the opportunity to share my talent with a game-changing network, and I’m very much looking forward to participate in this new endeavor!"
ABC has been trying to bring diversity to its channel. For the first time there's a black, Asian, and gay family on that channel. So this was bound to happen I think.
ABC has been trying to bring diversity to its channel. For the first time there's a black, Asian, and gay family on that channel. So this was bound to happen I think.
don't forget latinos
there's that cristela show with carlo ponce (he's a white puerto rican, but the rest of the cast are non white latinos)
ABC has been trying to bring diversity to its channel. For the first time there's a black, Asian, and gay family on that channel. So this was bound to happen I think.
I think it's great that ABC strives for diversity. Now the film industry and other networks need to take notes.
abc (diverse) family channel
