ABC greenlights Mexican format

ABC Family in the US has greenlit an adaptation of the Spanish-language Mexican drama Terminales, about a young woman who is diagnosed with cancer.

Chasing Life, a pilot of which was ordered by ABC last year, will be a coproduction between ABC Family, BV Family Productions, Lionsgate and Televisa, the producer of the original Terminales format.

The US version will be set in Boston and focuses on a young female journalist, played by Italia Ricci, who, whilst attempting to balance her ambitious career with her family life, is diagnosed with cancer.

The one-hour series, which joins other new dramas such as The Fosters, Twisted and Ravenswood at ABC, is expected to premiere in early 2014.

The commission comes as the cable channel this week promoted Marci Cooperstein to the role of VP of programming and development. Cooperstein, previously exec director of programming and development at ABC Family, will develop both original drama and comedy series in the role.