Hello One Direction freaks, an emo series about boy bands is in the works and, naturally, Zayn Malik is involved in its production.
Malik, who famously split from One Direction in 2015 and went solo, has teamed up with Dick Wolf of Law & Order fame to co-executive produce a drama for NBC. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the show “centers on the formation of a hugely successful boy band and captures all the excitement, competition and fun, but also takes an inside look into the pressure that come [sic] with the success.” Almost like X-Factor but real but fake. Malik, of course, knows what it’s like to be in a boy band with the power to leave fans equally enamored and emotionally damaged.
The idea for the show was first introduced to the network through Wolf’s wife Noelle, who said in a statement, “We were intrigued by the synergistic potential that Zayn brings to the project.” NBC Entertainment president Jennifer Salke similarly described Malik as a person who “brings an authentic point of view to this world where kids are catapulted into fame at a dizzying speed.”
What with heartthrob bands like the Backstreet Boys, New Edition, *NSYNC and One Direction flourishing over the years, surely there’s plenty of material to mine here. While girl groups often get categorized as drama queens, the series seems like it’ll show how boy bands are just as susceptible to scandals, breakups, dude fights and personal strife. Also, rest assured, à la Empire there will be original music.
