Bravo Media announced today they have signed actress Anna Gunn to star in the lead role in "Rita," one of the network's first scripted drama pilots slated to commence production Spring, 2013. "Rita" will be directed by Miguel Arteta who will also executive produce the pilot. Bravo recently announced they greenlit another scripted drama pilot "The Joneses," produced by ABC Studios, as part of the network's overall strategy to expand its non-scripted original programming slate into the scripted genre. Both pilots center on the complex dynamics of modern families. The network plans to debut its first original scripted series in the fourth quarter of 2013.
"Anna is the perfect actress to play Rita," said
Andrew Wang, Vice President of Scripted Development and Production, Bravo. "Rita needs to have a certain wit and strength about her, a person who is unapologetic in her point of view about her life and choices and Anna perfectly embodies all of those qualities that we are looking for in that role."
"
Anna Gunn is a phenomenal talent and we couldn't be more excited that she's going to play Rita," said Krista Vernoff, Writer and Executive Producer. "I know Hollywood is a hyperbolic town, but that's not hyperbole. We are freaking out with excitement!"
Emmy Award-nominated actress
Anna Gunn currently stars as "Skyler White" on AMC's Emmy award-winning show, "Breaking Bad," garnering considerable critical acclaim. Throughout her career, Anna has moved between television, film, and theatre with much ease. In 2004, Anna landed her breakout television role, playing "Martha Bullock", on HBO's seminal show, "Deadwood." Another major recurring role for Anna was on
David E. Kelley's "The Practice.". Her extensive television credits also include starring roles in several made-for-TV movies and major guest-starring appearances on such shows as "Six Feet Under," "ER" and "Seinfeld." Highlights of Anna's feature film work include the dark comedy, Nobody's Baby, Enemy of the State and the independent thriller, Without Evidence.
"Rita" is an adaptation of the Danish format of the same name. This edgy, humorous and acerbic family drama follows an outspoken private school teacher who struggles to raise her own three teenage children while dealing with the inane bureaucracy and overprotective parents at her school. Produced by
FOX Television Studios, "Rita" is written and executive produced by Krista Vernoff (Shameless, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Wonderfalls) with Mikkel Bondesen (Burn Notice, The Killing) and Henrik Bastin serving as executive producers for Fabrik Entertainment. Kristen Campo also serves as a co-executive producer for Fabrik Entertainment.
Other previously announced scripted projects in development include Moguls; Heathers; 22 Birthdays; The Apartment, The Darlings and Death Becomes Her.
Bravo is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.
Bravo has been an NBCUniversal cable network since December 2002 and was the first television service dedicated to film and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980. For more information, visit
www.BravoTV.com.
