EXCLUSIVE: Charise Castro Smith (Encanto) has signed a general agreement with 20th Television. Under the multi-year pact, she will develop, write and executive produce original series for linear networks and streamers, with a focus on the Disney Entertainment Television platforms.
Castro Smith does Confessions at the 7:45a series adaptation of Lisa Unger’s international bestseller, in development at Hulu, with Jessica Alba set to star and Eva Longoria set to direct the pilot. Castro Smith and Alba originally set up the series for development at Netflix two years ago. It is now being redeveloped for Hulu under Castro Smith’s deal at sibling 20th TV, part of Disney Television Studios.
Based on Unger’s novel, Confessions at the 7:45 is a psychological thriller in which a working mother (Alba) meets a stranger on the train who turns her life upside down. As her life unravels and betrayal comes to light, she wonders if we can ever truly know the people closest to us.
Castro Smith writes and executive produces. Alba is executive producing through her Lady Metalmark Entertainment, along with Longoria through Hyphenate Media Group, Unger and 3 Arts.
“We have loved Charise’s compelling storytelling, unique world-building and authentic point of view for years,” said Karey Burke, president of 20th Television. “She is not only an acclaimed playwright and television writer, but continues her incomparable work Encanto was simply spectacular. She has the rare ability to capture the human condition across multiple genres, she brings characters to life, and her words literally jump off the page, and the entire team at 20th Television is thrilled to officially welcome her to the studio.
This marks Castro Smith’s return to Disney after serving as co-writer and co-director of the 2021 Oscar-winning animated film Encanto. Prior to the Disney-Fox merger, she worked on the twentieth TV drama series The exorcist for Fox and saw her drama script from ABC Studios The death of Eva Sofia Valdez become a pilot at ABC starring Gina Torres.
“Having been part of the Disney family for years, this feels like coming home,” said Castro Smith. “I am so grateful to Karey Burke and Eric Schrier for welcoming me to the most writer-friendly studio in town. I’m so looking forward to making excellent television with this incredible team.”
Confessions at the 7:45 also marks Alba’s return to 20th Television, more than twenty years after her breakthrough starring role in the studio’s 2000 James Cameron drama series Dark Angel, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination.
At the time Confessions at the 7:45 was sold to Netflix in 2022, Alba spoke about her reaction to Unger’s novel that led to her involvement in the project.
“I couldn’t put this book down. The moment I read the sentence, ‘If you want to keep a secret, you must first hide it from yourself,’ I was hooked,” she said. “This book is about trying to bury secrets and the shame we carry until the truth exposes us. I can’t think of a more exciting person to collaborate with on this project. Charise is so ridiculously talented and really gets under the skin of every nuance of these characters and their web of lies.
Alba has made more than 25 feature films, including Fantastic four And Shame citywhich have earned a combined box office total of over $800 million. Most recently, she starred in and produced the Netflix action thriller Activate alert and alongside Gabrielle Union, she headlined and produced the action drama series, LA’s best. Alba’s Roku Series, Honest renovations, which she created, produces and hosts with Lizzy Mathis, was just picked up for a third season. She is repped by 3 Arts Entertainment, UTA and Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern.
On TV, Castro Smith was last seen on Netflix The Ghost of Hill House and that of Starz Sweetbitter. A prolific playwright, her work includes El Huracan (Yale Repertory Theater), Estrella Cruz: The queen of the junkyard (Ars Nova/Halcyon Theater), The Hunchback of Seville (Washington Ensemble Theater/Trinity Repertory Company), Washeteria (Soho representative), and Boomcracklefly (Wondertheater). Castro Smith is represented by UTA and attorney Scott Whitehead.
Longoria stars in season 4 of the hit TV series Hulu/20e Only murders in the building and in Hyphenate’s Apple TV+ series Country of women. Her TV directing credits include Gordita Chronicles, Devious Maids, Telenovela, Grand Hotel, Empire, Jane the Virgin And The Mick. She also directed the 2021 Sundance documentary La Guerra Civil, and the movie Flaming hot, which became Searchlight Pictures’ biggest streaming debut ever. Longoria is repped by WME, Linden Entertainment and Yorn Levine.
