Everett's 'Ambassador' lands at Peacock
Thesps gets guaranteed coin for 13 episodes
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Series will be produced as a co-venture between NBC Studios and Touchstone Television. Everett will exec produce the series with Marc Platt.
Deal came together lightning-quick. Platt, who knew Everett while he was a Sony exec when "My Best Friend's Wedding" became a hit, flew to New York last week to meet with Everett and flesh out a series idea. Platt, who has a TV producing deal at Touchstone and has been meeting with networks on a proposed series version of the Platt-produced feature "Legally Blonde," mentioned the liaison with Everett during an unrelated meeting with ABC last Friday. Less than 24 hours later, Platt and Everett had offers from all three networks, with NBC winning the auction by giving Everett guaranteed compensation for 13 episodes. ICM and AMG made the deal with attorney Barry Hirsh.
In the fish-out-of-water sitcom, Everett will play a British ambassador stationed in Washington, D.C.
A search is on for a showrunner, who'll co-write the pilot with Everett. Everett will be very involved in the scripting process. He's written numerous scripts that are in development, along with several novels that include "Hello Darling, Are You Working?"
As an actor, Everett recently completed "The Importance of Being Earnest" with Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon and Judi Dench in a film that reteams Everett with "An Ideal Husband" helmer Oliver Parker. He also stars with Kathy Bates in the New Line film "Unconditional Love," which reteams Everett with "My Best Friend's Wedding" director P.J. Hogan.
