Grease Prequel Series Shifting Gears from HBO Max to Paramount+

While already developing a prequel film to the 1978 musical hit Grease, Paramount has acquired the in-development prequel series Grease: Rydell High from HBO Max, with plans to air it on ViacomCBS’ upcoming revitalized streaming platform Paramount+, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The series, written and executive produced by Annabel Oakes (Awkward), was originally ordered by WarnerMedia’s HBO Max a year ago, who has opted not to go ahead with the show in the wake of management changes at the streaming platform with HBO topper Casey Bloys taking over from former WM Entertainment and Direct-to-Consumer Head Bob Greenblatt and Chief Content Officer Kevin Reilly.

Set in the 1950s, the formerly title Grease: Rydell High, now titled Rise of the Pink Ladies will take place during the time when the Pink Ladies and the T-Birds still rule the school and will center on Sandy, Rizzo, Jan, Marty and Frenchy and how they all came together. The musical series will explore the peer pressures of high school, the horrors of puberty, and the rollercoaster of life in middle America with a modern sensibility that will bring it to life for today’s musical lovers.

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Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies will be executive produced by Erik Feig’s Picturestart and Temple Hill. This project will be Paramount TV’s second Grease TV spinoff, who had first produced Fox’s 2016 Grease: Live which garnered five Emmy Awards. Last April, it was also reported that Paramount Players is developing a Grease prequel movie titled Summer Loving which will focus on Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson’s summer fling, which is still reportedly in development at the studio with Brett Haley attached to direct.

It also marks the latest project at the recently rebranded streaming platform to be based on one of the studio’s classic film titles, with a series adaptation of The Godfather currently in development, as well as a sequel series to the hit dramedy The Game.