Hulu Brings a New High School Drama ‘Capsized’ from ‘PLL’ Executive Producer Charlie Craig as Part of Young Adult Series Expansion

EXCLUSIVE: Hulu has announced the development of a new drama titled Capsized, inspired by the forthcoming young adult novel from Charlotte Lillie Balogh, known for her previous work, Kill the Lax Bro. Balogh will co-write and executive produce the adaptation alongside Charlie Craig, who is recognized for his contributions to Pretty Little Liars. The series will be produced by 20th Television.

As the streaming counterpart to Disney’s Freeform network, Hulu was an early pioneer in the young adult genre, gaining traction with shows like Pretty Little Liars. However, the landscape has shifted dramatically with platforms like Netflix and Prime Video introducing popular series such as Wednesday, Stranger Things, Ginny & Georgia, and The Summer I Turned Pretty.

With Freeform stepping back from scripted originals, Hulu is now aiming to reclaim its leadership position by launching a new array of coming-of-age series. These will encompass both traditional young adult tales, focusing on adolescent protagonists, as well as narratives that follow young adults navigating college and early career challenges.

The streaming service recently concluded its successful drama Tell Me Lies, which had a three-season run, and is set to release Mindy Kaling’s comedy series Not Suitable For Work, both of which align with this new strategic direction.

Capsized is positioned as a quintessential young adult project within Hulu’s upcoming lineup, which also includes Phony, featuring Sam Nivola and Connie Britton, and the pilot Foster Dade, currently awaiting a pickup decision. Although a pilot for a Buffy reboot was part of the lineup, it ultimately did not move forward.

All three projects share a mystery element reminiscent of Pretty Little Liars, making Charlie Craig an ideal choice to collaborate with Balogh on the Capsized adaptation and potentially serve as showrunner. Craig has previously held the role of executive producer and co-showrunner for both Pretty Little Liars and its spinoff, PLL: The Perfectionists.

Set against the backdrop of elite high school rowing, Capsized follows Jo Bryant, an ambitious novice, and Margaret Douglas, the refined varsity captain, as they and their teammates uncover a sinister secret linked to their coach’s legacy while preparing for the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta.

Craig’s extensive experience in the young adult genre includes credits for the CW series The 100 and Reign. He is represented by Rob Golenberg at Pivot Artists Group.

Balogh, who published her first book at the age of 16, will see Capsized released as her second novel through Delacorte Press. With a lifelong passion for superheroes, Balogh started her career in television and film at DC Entertainment, contributing to projects such as Wonder Woman 1984 and the CW series Stargirl. She is represented by Michael Bourrett at Dystel Goderich & Bourret and Jillian Davis at Kaplan Stahler Agency.