Cleo: Peacock Developing a Comedy-Drama Set in Ancient Egypt

Peacock has partnered with Jane the Virgin showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman to develop the brand new comedy-drama series titled Cleo, which will take place in ancient Egypt. The project will center around the queen of Egypt, Cleopatra.

According to Deadline, Cleo is created by Jessica Runck, who is also co-writing the series with Urman. Just like on Jane the Virgin, Urman will be serving as a showrunner and executive producer as part of her overall deal with CBS Studios.

“A dramatic comedy set in ancient Egypt that proves not much has changed in two thousand years, the series will tell the story of Cleopatra, an overqualified young woman who is forced to hide her intelligence behind make-up, clothes and men to earn the respect she needs to hang on to her job: being queen of Egypt,” reads the synopsis.

The project will also be executive produced by Runck, Aaron Kaplan, Brian Morewitz, Wendi Trilling, Joanna Klein, and Karen Forman. It is a production by CBS Studios, Kapital Entertainment, and TrillTV.

Cleopatra is one of the world’s most famous historical figures. Her story has been adapted for the screen a number of times now, with the most notable one being the 1963 film starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Paramount Pictures is currently developing another film adaptation of Cleopatra, with Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot attached to portray the Egyptian queen.