Mariah Carey’s life story has always seemed larger than life. Perhaps that why it makes so much sense that someone is turning it into a television series.
Per Deadline, Starz is developing a fictional scripted drama based on “the music superstar’s real-life experiences.” Taking place in 1986 New York City, the unnamed show (which will invariably be named after one of Carey’s famous songs) will follow a bi-racial 16-year-old girl who has to navigate a difficult childhood to eventually become a music superstar.
Carey makes for quite the basis for discussion. She has sold over 200 million records worldwide and she’s the third-best-selling female artist ever in the U.S. with 63.5 million albums. She also has 18th number-one singles and five Grammy Awards, just to name a few accolades.
The one potential pitfall facing the series is the fact that Carey herself will be one of the executive producers (along with Brett Ratner). While nobody knows Carey’s story better than she does, it also means the show might choose to gloss over some of the unsavory details of her life. If Mariah doesn’t want the show to depict something she went through, such as her public breakdown or a painful divorce, she could almost certainly have it nixed or replaced. That’s not a deal killer but it dampens the “true story” potential for the show.
Nina Colman (Dr. Dolittle 3) will be the writer, showrunner, and executive producer alongside Carey, Ratner, and others. Casting has yet to be announced but start thinking about who you think could play 16-year-old Mariah Carey.
[Deadline]