Netflix explores Expanding Universe

US streaming giant Netflix has ordered a family comedy series co-created by TV personality Mario Lopez and writer and producer Seth Kurland.

Mario Lopez

The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia tells the story of a 15-and-a-half-year-old robotics engineer and rocket scientist who gets the chance to work for Nasa. To do so, she moves across the country to live with her irresponsible Uncle Victor, a pro football player turned high school coach.

Newcomer Paulina Chavez stars as Ashley and singer and actor Jencarlos Canela (Telenovela, Grand Hotel) plays Victor. Lopez will exec produce the 16-episode series alongside Kurland (Speechless, Melissa & Joey, Friends) and David Kendall (Melissa & Joey, Boy Meets World, Growing Pains).

Kurland and Kendall also write the series and Kurland acts as showrunner.

The show joins Netflix’s growing slate of live-action series featuring kids and families, which includes No Good Nick from David H Steinberg and Keetgi Kogan, Alexa & Katie from Heather Wordham, and forthcoming series Malibu Rescue from Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas.