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Precious Director Lee Daniels Developing LGBT Drama for TV

Series will explore New York City's teenage drag culture.

He broke into the Hollywood elite in the most unexpected way, and now Oscar-nominated director Lee Daniels is taking his talents to television, reports IndieWire. First the Precious director earlier announced a deal with NBC to adapt The Valley of the Dolls for TV, and now he's begun working with Showtime on a new drama set in the world of teenage drag queens.

 

Started in New York City and brought to mainstream attention by Madonna in her video for "Vogue," this subculture of transgender youth, known as "drag balls," is like a fraternity system created for the disenfranchised multicultural young people, who come together to compete for trophies and prizes in dance and other performance-based activities. No specific details have been released about the plot or characters, though the show will undoubtedly be a great platform for actors not usually seen in lead roles on television shows.

 

The screenplay will be written by Temple Grandin writer W. Merritt Johnson with Daniels directing and producing. Showtime is no stranger to bringing LGBT issues to television, having had success with shows like The L Word and Queer as Folk.

(Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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