Cleopatra and Augs: Two New Series in Development at Freeform

Freeform to develop a period drama about Cleopatra, and Augs, about a tech-heavy future

At the first inaugural Freeform summit, the network announced two new series that are in development. The first one is based on the life of the Egyptian ruler Cleopatra. The second one is called Augs, from Anonymous content and Scott Stewart. The series is set in the near future where some parts of society have technological enhancements and others don’t. You can also check out a video from the network, giving you a look at their new series and style.

Freeform’s first-ever period drama will be an epic, female-centric adventure series following the life of the most beloved ruler in Egyptian history, Cleopatra, who after being exiled as a young woman decides to stand up against the patriarchy and fight back for her freedom and rightful place as heir. This tale will follow her rise and transition to becoming not only the first, last and only female Pharaoh, but also the world’s most powerful person all while engaging in a classic love triangle that changed the map of the world forever. Cleopatra is produced by ABC Signature Studios and executive produced by Michael Sietzman (Quantico, Code Black), Christina Davis, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Daniel McDermott and Mike Weiss.

The network is also developing the hour-long drama Augs, created and directed by Scott Stewart (Blumhouse’s Dark Skies). The series is set in the all-to-near future when society is divided into two classes: Augs, the privileged who can afford the latest technological-biological enhancements that provide an always-connected augmented reality view of the world; and Norms, the disenfranchised rest who’ve become a nearly invisible underclass. Set in the moneyed, suburban enclave of Cambio Point, Augs follows Gennifer Wells, an ambitious and popular Aug girl, who falls in love with Bodhi Bright, the mysterious new guy in town. The only problem is he’s a Norm, and this causes her friends and family to turn against her. As she realizes being enhanced isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, Gennifer is forced to make a choice between the privileged augmented world she knows and the strange boy she loves, who prefers to see things through his “unenhanced” eyes. But her choice will not be easy, as forces on both sides conspire to keep them apart. Stewart and Anonymous Content’s Jeff Okin will produce.

What do you think of Augs and a series based on Cleopatra? Let us know in the comments.