NBC Unveils Eva Longoria Comedy, Underground Railroad Miniseries

UNIVERSAL CITY: Among the new projects revealed by NBC are a half-hour comedy starring Eva Longoria, a miniseries about the Underground Railroad executive produced by Stevie Wonder and a slate of movies developed in partnership with Dolly Parton.

Longoria, best known from her role in the long-running ABC series Desperate Housewives, makes her return to prime-time TV in Telenovela. The network has ordered 13 episodes of the single-camera comedy, which Longoria will also executive produce. From Universal Television and Unbelievable Entertainment, Telenovela captures the behind-the-scenes craziness of a popular Spanish telenovela.

NBC is adapting author and Pulitzer Prize finalist Betty DeRamus’ acclaimed book Forbidden Fruit: Love Stories from the Underground Railroad as an eight-hour miniseries, Freedom Run. The project will focus on three specific epic journeys and love stories, each based on actual people. Music icon Stevie Wonder will serve as an executive producer. B. Swibel, Adam Westbrook and Charles Randolph-Wright will write the miniseries and serve as executive producers. Tara Smith and Brian LaRoda will also executive produce.

The network signed a development deal with country star Dolly Parton that will see the production of a slate of two-hour TV movies based on her songs, stories and life. Parton will produce these projects, which are meant to appeal to a family audience. Sam Haskell of Magnolia Hill Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television are also on board.

Additionally, NBC revealed that Zachary Levi, who starred in the series Chuck, has been cast in the network’s upcoming event miniseries Heroes Reborn. Jack Coleman, who played Noah Bennet in the original Heroes series, is set to reprise his role as “HRG” for the new project. NBC is planning to launch a digital series prior to the premiere of Heroes Reborn that will introduce the characters and new story lines. Tim Kring, Peter Elkoff and James Middleton will serve as executive producers on Heroes Reborn. Holly Harold is co-executive producer.