Starz greenlights Saracho’s original series Vida

Starz has greenlit Hispanic US-set drama Vida, which will be directed by How to Get Away With Murder’s Tanya Saracho.

Saracho (pictured, Girls, Looking) will also serve as a showrunner with Alonso Ruizpalacios.

Vida is a half-hour drama series focusing on two very different Mexican-American sisters from the eastside of LA. Circumstances force them to return to their old neighbourhood, where they are confronted by shocking revelations about their mother’s identity.

Big Beach TV will produce the series, with Marc Turtletaub, Peter Saraf and Robin Schwartz as executive producers.

Lionsgate, which acquired Starz earlier this year, will retain all domestic and international multiplatform rights, including broadcast, home entertainment and digital for the series.

“Tanya explores identity, culture, gender and sexuality through the lens of a Latinix family and their community,” said Starz CEO Chris Albrecht. “It’s a deeply personal and relatable series about coming back home and finally growing up.

“Vida reflects the intersecting worlds of Latin and American descendants of all genders and sexualities and speaks to the heart of Starz’s programming commitment to present compelling stories for traditionally underserved audiences. We are very proud to work with Tanya and help bring her vision to life.

Marta Fernandez, senior VP of original programming, and Kathleen Clifford, manager of original programming, are the Starz executives in charge of the series.