WE TV pushes into scripted

US cablenet WE TV is expanding into scripted programming by picking up a series developed for its parent AMC and is preparing three other original shows.

The Divide, starring Marin Ireland and Damon Gupton, is WE TV’s first original scripted series and will premiere in 2014. It focuses on the fight to prove the innocence of a death row inmate.

The 10×60′ drama is being produced by AMC Studios, the company behind The Walking Dead and Mad Men, and the pilot episode was originally made for AMC.

It is written by Richard Lagravenese (Water for Elephants, The Bridges of Madison County), who is also executive producing alongside Tony Goldwyn (Justified, Dexter). Emmy winner John Tinker (The Practice, Chicago Hope) is showrunner and will also exec produce.

In addition, WE TV has announced a development slate of three other scripted series.

All American Woman (working title) tells the story of three different women against the cultural backdrop of All American Woman magazine, while Dirty follows a former financier who falls on hard times and moves in with her former housekeeper. Both projects are from Fox Television Studios.

Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson are executive producing Headhunters, which examines women’s attempts to confront the ambiguity and conflicting choices that surround their lives.

The news follows yesterday’s scripted move by another female-skewing US cablenet, TLC, which will air Surviving the In-Laws at the end of the month. The two-parter produced by Mak Pictures features actors re-creating real-life stories about newlyweds and their in-laws and will premiere on July 31 at 22.00 (ET).