Deadline is reporting that Facebook Watch has given a series commitment to a new female teen soccer drama from Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo and Memphis Beat creators Liz Garcia and Josh Harto.
The as-yet-untitled project revolves around “a high school girls soccer team in upstate New York as the team’s melting pot line-up and winning streak invites the community to overcome deep divisions along racial, ethnic and class lines by rallying around the universal language of the beautiful game. The show also explores the ups and downs of teenage life, as players maneuver love, friendships and family.”
“In my free time, one of the things I like to do is to watch good television,” said Ronaldo. “To be the executive producer of this series is going to be an amazing experience, especially given the talent of the people who are working very hard to bring it to life. The story of my life has many similarities with the highs and lows the girls varsity soccer team will face in the series. While the series is set against the background of soccer, it goes much deeper than just the beautiful game. It’s about values, challenges, friendship, difficult times, hard work, solidarity, tensions, and harmony. In a word – it’s about life.”
“This is a high-end series with global appeal, set against the backdrop of the world’s most popular sport, and created in partnership with the world’s best footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, and remarkable storytellers Liz and Josh,” added producer Paul Lee of production company wiip, which recently sold the Catherine Zeta Jones-headlined Queen America series to Facebook Watch.
Garcia and Harto have scripted the series, and will executive produce alongside Ronaldo.