UPDATED: Emmy-nominated Susanne Bier (The Night Manager) is in talks to direct Amazon Studios‘ pilot about pre-revolutionary Cuba.
The untitled Cuba project (formerly Tropicana) is set in pre-revolutionary Cuba in and around the world of the Tropicana nightclub. With the club as a focal point, the series explores the intersection of entertainers, the mob, Batista loyalists, Castro revolutionaries and the American CIA. The pilot is written/executive produced by Josh Goldin and Rachel Abramowitz and executive produced by Andrea Simon. Emmy winner Jeff Melvoin (Northern Exposure, Army Wives, Alias) is executive producer/showrunner.
The pilot was announced last month, along with four others greenlighted by Amazon: Carnival Row from Guillermo del Toro and Travis Beacham; The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel from Gilmore Girls creator Amy-Sherman Palladino; drama Strange New Things, from writer Matt Charman (Bridge of Spies) and director Kevin MacDonald; and real-life superhero comedy The Legend of Master Legend, from writers Micah Fitzerman-Blue & Noah Harpster.
Bier on Thursday received her first Emmy nom, for Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special on AMC’s The Night Manager. Her feature directing credits include In a Better World, A Second Chance and After the Wedding.
Melvoin is repped by CAA and Rain Management Group.
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