By Elia Esparza
Co-Created y Mario Lopez and Seth Kurland
When Ashley Garcia — the world’s only 15-and-a-half-year-old robotics engineer and rocket scientist — gets the chance to work for NASA, she moves across the country to live with her fun-loving Uncle Victor, a pro football player turned high school coach who’s never met a responsibility he can’t shirk.
Netflix has been working overtime since canceling One Day at a Time after three seasons. The news is that the streaming giant is adding The Expanding Universe of Ashley Green, to its growing slate of live-action series featuring kids and families. The 16-episodes are centered around a 15-year-old robotics engineer and rocket scientist who moves in with her uncle when she gets a chance to work for NASA.
“I am excited for the opportunity to partner with Netflix to tell a universal, family-friendly story with a Latin flavor!” said Mario Lopez.
Pretty cool, huh?
This is a project created by Lopez and Seth Kurland (Speechless, Melissa & Joey, Friends), who is executive-producing the series. Kurland is also the showrunner of the multi-cam comedy. Writer/Executive Producer is David Kendall (Melissa & Joey, Boy Meets World, Growing Pains). Also on the writing team is TV scripter Jessica Lopez (Selena, That’s So Raven, East Los High).
“This is a show for the entire family, and hopefully as we expand the universe of Ashley, we also get to expand everyone else’s universe,” Lopez stated in an ET interview. “When I got the call I couldn’t believe it, but now that it has sunken in, I am filled with excitement and thrilled to kick off filming.”
Latin Heat, NHMC (National Hispanic Media Coalition) and many Latinos working in the industry have had multiple conversations about the importance of diversity and representation on screen. How wonderful that our very own Mario Lopez has created a funny and wholesome Latino-themed family comedy that appeals to mainstream viewers. Kudos to Netflix for their continued support of bringing programming that beautifully captures the core essence of what being a USA Latino is and looks like. Also, it is further validation of the importance of Latinos to the U.S.A. economy. Netflix knows the power and value of brand loyal Latino viewers, who as a group represent the biggest and growing ethnic minority in the nation.
Jencarlos Canela (Grand Hotel), will portray the fun-loving uncle Victor, and newcomer Paulina Chavez (Padre Pio, Day 5), will star in the title role.
Jencarlos Canela is repped by Creative Artists Agency (CAA), DePaz Management, and Shelter PR. Paula Chavez is repped by Cunningham Escott Slevin & Doherty (CESD), and Pastorini Bosby Talent Agency. Mario Lopez is repped by 3 Arts Entertainment, William Morris Endeavor (WME) Entertainment, and Baker Winokur Ryder Public Relations.