One Day boss to bring "truly brilliant" YA drama to Netflix after past HBO attempt

Netflix has greenlit its next YA hit series, with One Day writer Nicole Taylor set to adapt Curtis Sittenfeld's 2005 bestselling debut novel Prep, a tale of class and privilege set in a ruthless New England boarding school.

Consisting of half-hour episodes, the series will bring to the screen the coming-of-age story of Lee Fiora (via Deadline). The protagonist is a scholarship student at Ault, a prestigious boarding school where she navigates friendships, romances and classes as someone from a very different background.

"Prep is my all time favourite novel and I have longed to adapt it for the entire twenty years since I first read it and found myself reflected uncannily back," Taylor said of taking on the adaptation.

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"There is no more acute depiction of the introspective, bookish self-conscious adolescent girl and no more truthful or excoriating take on the perils of social mobility than in Curtis Sittenfeld's beautiful first novel. I am overjoyed to be adapting for Netflix."

Prep is executive produced by Taylor, Will Ferrell, Jessica Elbaum, and Alix Taylor for Gloria Sanchez Productions, and Sittenfeld.

Netflix's adaptation isn't the first time TV has turned to Sittenfeld's novel. In 2016, HBO acquired the rights to the book to adapt it into a comedy series by former 30 Rock writer-producer Colleen McGuinness and Game of Thrones executive producer Carolyn Strauss.

The project ultimately didn't move forward, leaving it now to Netflix to try and do Sittenfeld's novel justice.

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"I'm overjoyed that Netflix is making Prep as a TV show — the 22-year wait was worth it!" the author said in a statement.

"Alix Taylor at Gloria Sanchez has guided the project forward with such intelligence and enthusiasm, and Nicole Taylor's scripts are truly brilliant.

"Nicole's adaptation makes me understand my own novel, and myself, better. My 51-year-old self can't wait to see what they do with this story of privilege, longing, and teen angst."

Nicole Taylor's Prep adaptation will stream on Netflix.

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Reporter, Digital Spy

Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy. 

Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).