Alena Smith is developing the original drama “All Boys” at Netflix, Variety has learned exclusively from sources.
The series is said to be set at an all-boys boarding school in New England and follows a teacher who is himself an alumnus of the school. Now middle aged with a family, he struggles with his own midlife issues while trying to prepare this new generation of young men for the future.
Smith is the creator and writer of the series, with Shawn Levy’s 21 Laps Entertainment also onboard to produce via their overall deal with Netflix.
Reps for Netflix did not immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment.
Smith is best known for creating the Apple TV series “Dickinson,” which told a comedic and anachronistic account of the early life of famed poet Emily Dickinson. Hailee Steinfeld starred in the series, which was one of the first shows to be launched under the then Apple TV banner. Notable guest stars also included John Mulaney, Zosia Mamet, Billy Eichner, Wiz Khalifa, and Chloe Fineman. It ultimately ran for three seasons and 30 episodes, winning a Peabody Award in 2019 for its first season.
Smith served as showrunner and executive producer on “Dickinson” in addition to directing the series finale. Costumes, props, and set pieces have since been used to refurbish the Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst, MA.
Smith is also currently at work on an Audrey Hepburn biopic starring Lily Collins from Imagine Entertainment and Case Study Films, as well as executive producing the FX limited series “Cry Wolf” starring Olivia Coleman and Brie Larson.
She began her career in television as a staff writer on the hit HBO series “The Newsroom” during the show’s third season. She then went on to work as a writer and co-producer on the critically-acclaimed Showtime drama “The Affair.” In addition, she is an accomplished playwright, having published works including “Icebergs,” “The Bad Guys,” and “The New Sincerity.” “The Bad Guys” was subsequently adapted into a film in 2018, with Glenn Powell in a lead role.
She is repped by WME.
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