There is bad news for American Idol season 6 winner Jordin Sparks. The Freeform series the singer/actress was set to star in is no longer moving forward in its present form at Freeform/Disney.
The Hollywood Reporter reports that the straight-to-series project, formerly titled Besties, will be redeveloped with a new cast. The series had already gone through several changes.
Disney picked up the series, originally titled Unrelated, in May 2018. Created by Ranada Shepard, Casey Johnson and David Windsor and executive produced by Kenya Barris, press materials described the series as following Becca (Jordin Sparks) and her newly discovered half-sister Jesi (Gigi Zumbado), as they’re thrown into each other’s lives by an online genetics test. The two discover they have the same birth mother and have to figure out how to go from strangers to sisters.
Starring in the series alongside the Idol singer were Matt Shively, Kris D. Lofton, Zumbado, Jessika Van and Davi Santos. Eventually, Barris (Blackish) changed to title to Besties as he brought in new showrunner, Aesha Carr (The Carmichael Show). Barris made the switch, according to THR, after becoming unhappy with the series’ early creative direction.
Barris himself resigned from the project after leaving ABC for a deal at Netflix. However, he did remain involved with the project. Freeform/Disney made the decision to redevelop the series three months after they hired Lauren Corrao (Comedy Central) to replace Karey Burke. And as these things often go, after reviewing Freeform’s slate, she made the decision to re-develop the property.
Jordin tweeted excitedly after news broke about the series back in February. “So grateful and excited to finally share this!” Jordin added, “C’mon 2019!!! Let’s Go…”
SO GRATEFUL & EXCITED TO FINALLY SHARE THIS! Come on 2019!!! LETS GO @freeformtv @bbrantly35 @mattshively1 ?????? https://t.co/IkeEvOwx1j
— Jordin Sparks (@JordinSparks) February 5, 2019
In the meantime, Jordin is keeping herself busy raising her young son Dana Isaiah, appearing on various talk shows promoting her cooking and baking expertise, and promoting new music. Recently, she dropped a four track EP titled 90s Forever with R&B and hip hop artist, Elijah Blake.
