Cottage Industry Entertainment has unveiled its first slate under its first-look deal with Fox Entertainment Studios, putting a television adaptation of Danielle Steel’s The Whittiers at the center of a lineup spanning scripted series and feature films.

The company was launched last year by former Hallmark Media executive Lisa Hamilton Daly and former Warner Bros. and Legendary executive Alysia Cotter Thomas. Their initial Fox slate combines literary adaptations with original projects, including an Angela Kinsey comedy and three films now in development.

‘The Whittiers’ Heads to Television

The Whittiers, Steel’s 200th book, is being developed as a one-hour family drama. Jordanna Fraiberg, whose credits include The Dead Girls Detective Agency, is writing the adaptation.

Fox Entertainment Studios said the project is in development at a streaming platform. No additional platform or casting details were announced.

Two more projects make up the television side of the slate. Summer on Lilac Island is an adaptation of Lindsay MacMillan’s novel, with Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin writer Delondra Mesa attached to write.

Mom’s Place, meanwhile, is a comedy project from Kinsey, known for The Office, and Audrey Wauchope, whose credits include Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

Three Feature Projects in Development

Cottage Industry is also building a film lineup that includes romance and additional book-to-screen adaptations.

It All Comes Down to This is described as a hockey-themed romantic comedy from screenwriters Sam Sklaver and Elizabeth Peterson.

The company is also developing The View from Lake Como, based on Adriana Trigiani’s novel, as well as The Afterlife of Holly Chase, adapted from Cynthia Hand’s novel. Ali Laventhol and Tawnya Bhattacharya are handling the adaptation of The Afterlife of Holly Chase.

Together, the six announced projects establish the company’s early mix of television and film: three scripted TV titles and three features, with four of the projects based on books.

Experienced Executives Behind the Slate

Hamilton Daly previously served as executive vice president of programming for Hallmark Media. During her time there, she oversaw projects including The Way Home, When Calls the Heart and Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.

Before Hallmark, she worked at Netflix, where she oversaw Virgin River and Sweet Magnolias.

Cotter Thomas previously worked as a creative director at Warner Bros., contributing to films including A Cinderella Story with Hilary Duff and 300 with Zack Snyder. She later moved to Legendary Entertainment, where her film work included The Dark Knight, 300: Rise of an Empire and Wrath of the Titans. She also spent time at Working Title in London and Paradigm.

Hannah Pillemer, head of scripted at Fox Entertainment Studios, said the pair bring “a terrific combination of creative instincts, industry experience, and a real understanding of what connects with audiences.”

Pillemer also pointed to Hamilton Daly’s work on female-driven television series and Cotter Thomas’ background developing films and supporting filmmakers and storytellers. She described Cottage Industry as having “a clear point of view, a strong commercial sensibility, and a growing slate of projects that we’re pleased to welcome to Fox.”

Hamilton Daly and Cotter Thomas called Fox Entertainment Studios “a tremendous partner” in building the company and realizing its creative plans.

“We share a belief in stories that entertain, move people, and keep audiences coming back, whether that’s a compelling family drama, a smart romantic comedy, or a suspenseful thriller,” the founders said. They added that they look forward to continuing to develop television and film projects with Pillemer and her team.

ShowBiz Take

Cottage Industry’s first Fox slate is notable for immediately establishing the company across both television and film rather than concentrating on a single format. The lineup also makes literary material a defining part of its opening strategy, led by the adaptation of Steel’s 200th book and supported by novels from MacMillan, Trigiani and Hand.

At the same time, original concepts such as Mom’s Place and the hockey-themed It All Comes Down to This broaden the slate beyond book adaptations. That combination reflects the founders’ stated interest in family drama, romantic comedy and other audience-focused storytelling.

What Happens Next?

All six projects remain part of the company’s developing slate. The Whittiers is currently in development at a streaming platform, while the other announced television and film projects continue to move forward through Cottage Industry’s partnership with Fox Entertainment Studios.