Music to our ears. Ilana Peña, creator and showrunner of the Disney+ TV series Diary of a Future President has been tapped by CBS TV Studios for an overall production deal. CBS TV studios is the studio that produces Diary of a Future President and having seen its success wants to keep Pena creating for them.
Originally from Miami Florida, Pena received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Northwestern University. Moving to California she began working as a production assistant. She soon landed an assistant position to Rachel Bloom, the creator and showrunner of the CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. That is when her writing career stepped into gear. She was promoted to a writing assistant and then writer where she wrote a few episodes for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Peña then created and pitched Diary of a Future President and the rest, as they say, is history.
This past May Disney+ announced that Diary of a Future President would get a second season. The executive producing team which, aside from Pena includes Gina Rodriguez n(also makes cameo appearances as the President of the United States) includes Robin Shorr, Emily Gipson, Brad Silberling and Lewis Abel.
“Since day one on Diary, CBS Studios has been so supportive of my vision and voice,” said Peña. “I am incredibly grateful to the team for giving me a creative home to tell meaningful, inclusive stories.”
With a hit show and a production deal in place, Peña is creating worlds through her writing that resonate among Latinos and beyond.
Peña is represented by Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.