Showtime Orders "The L Word" Sequel to Series

Showtime Orders "The L Word" Sequel to Series
Marja-Lewis Ryan serves as showrunner and is executive producing with series creator Ilene Chaiken and original series stars Jennifer Beals, Katherine Moennig and Leisha Hailey.

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[via press release from Showtime] SHOWTIME ORDERS "THE L WORD" SEQUEL TO SERIES
Marja-Lewis Ryan, Ilene Chaiken, Jennifer Beals, Katherine Moennig And Leisha Hailey To Executive Produce Revival
Scheduled To Premiere In Late 2019

LOS ANGELES - January 31, 2019 - Celebrating the 15th anniversary of the original's premiere, SHOWTIME has announced an eight-episode order for a sequel to its groundbreaking hit series THE L WORD, scheduled to premiere by the end of 2019. Marja-Lewis Ryan (The Four-Faced Liar, 6 Balloons) serves as showrunner and is executive producing with series creator Ilene Chaiken and original series stars Jennifer Beals, Katherine Moennig and Leisha Hailey. The announcement was made today by Gary Levine, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc., at the Television Critics Association's Winter Press Tour.

"Marja has brought her unique and contemporary vision to THE L WORD and blended it beautifully into the fabric of Ilene's groundbreaking series," said Levine. "This revered show was both entertaining and impactful when it originally ran on SHOWTIME, and we are confident that our new version will do that and more in 2019."

THE L WORD originally ran on SHOWTIME from 2004-2009. In this revival, Beals, Moennig and Hailey will star on the series as their original characters alongside a new generation of self-possessed LGBTQIA characters experiencing love, heartbreak, sex, setbacks and success in L.A.
SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS, and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Amazon, Apple(R), Google, LG Smart TVs, Oculus Go, Roku(R), Samsung Smart TVs and Xbox One. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Amazon's Prime Video Channels, DirecTV Now, FuboTV, Hulu, Sling TV, Sony PlayStation(TM) Vue, and YouTube TV or directly at www.showtime.com. 

Showtime(R) Names Marja-Lewis Ryan Showrunner and Executive Producer of "The L Word" Sequel

Showtime(R) Names Marja-Lewis Ryan Showrunner and Executive Producer of "The L Word" Sequel
Series creator Ilene Chaiken will serve as executive producer, along with Jennifer Beals, Katherine Moennig and Leisha Hailey, who all starred in the original series.

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[via press release from Showtime] SHOWTIME(R) NAMES MARJA-LEWIS RYAN SHOWRUNNER AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF "THE L WORD" SEQUEL

Ilene Chaiken, Jennifer Beals, Katherine Moennig And Leisha Hailey To Executive Produce Series Revival

LOS ANGELES - November 20, 2017 - SHOWTIME has named Marja-Lewis Ryan (The Four-Faced Liar, 6 Balloons) as showrunner and executive producer of the upcoming sequel to the hit series THE L WORD, which is currently in development at the network. Series creator Ilene Chaiken will serve as executive producer, along with Jennifer Beals, Katherine Moennig and Leisha Hailey, who all starred in the original series.

"Ilene and the original L Word made me believe that my voice mattered," said Ryan. "I am beyond excited for the opportunity to usher in the next generation of diverse queer people. I couldn't imagine a better time to make this show."

Ryan wrote and directed the upcoming film 6 Balloons (starring Abbi Jacobson and Dave Franco) and is penning the reboot of Splash starring Channing Tatum and Jillian Bell, as well as Buried Bodies for Noah Hawley and Fox Searchlight. She is an award-winning playwright (One In The Chamber) and her adapted play The Four-Faced Liar won multiple awards including Outstanding First Narrative Feature at L.A. Outfest. She also co-starred in and co-produced the film.

SHOWTIME announced in July that it was in development on a sequel to THE L WORD, which ran on the network from 2004-2009. Beals, Moennig and Hailey will appear on the series as their original characters as a point of connection from the prior series to the new one. They will be surrounded by a new ensemble of self-possessed LGBTQIA characters experiencing love, heartbreak, sex, setbacks and success on the east side of L.A.

SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Apple(R), Roku(R), Amazon and Google. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Hulu, YouTube TV, Sling TV, Sony PlayStation(TM) Vue, DirecTV Now and Amazon Channels.