Little Bell Productions, which the duo founded last year, has signed a deal with Universal TV to adapt Belle's thriller novel into a series.
The Paris Widow tells the story of a dream vacation that turns deadly when secrets from their past ensnare a married couple in Paris. The duo will produce alongside Talitha Watkins, president of ColorCreative, the production and management company she co-founded with Issa Rae and Deniese Davis. Belle will co-produce.
The book, which was published by Park Row in June, begins when Stella met Adam. She thought she had finally found a nice, normal guy—a welcome change from her previous boyfriend and her precarious jetsetter lifestyle with him. But her secure world comes crashing down when Adam goes missing after an explosion in the city square.
As the French police investigate, it’s revealed that Adam was on their radar as a dealer of rare and stolen antiquities with a long roster of criminal clients. Reeling from this news, Stella is determined not to leave Paris until she has the full story. Was Adam a random victim or the target of the explosion? And why is someone following her through the streets of Paris?
Little was previously Vice President of Drama Development at Universal TV, where she worked on series including Bel-Air, The Best Man: The Final Chapters, The Equalizer and FBI. Prior to that, she worked at Fox and A&E. Bell was previously a Development Executive at Amazon Studios, where she worked on Boots Riley’s I’m a Virgo and Swarm, among others. She previously worked at Showtime, Universal Television and NBC.
“We are exhilarated to be embarking on this next chapter of our careers with Universal Television, a place that feels like home,” Little and Bell said. “As individuals, we have always been mission-driven and are excited to be joining forces to bring stories to life that celebrate the universal in the unique and tap into the broader human condition. The Paris Widow does exactly that with the thrills and romance that can only be found, as we have all seen recently, in the City of Light.”
Erin Underhill, President of Universal Television, added: "We’re so excited to reunite with the team at Little Bell. Brittany and Larissa’s creative instincts, business savvy and passion make them ideal partners for Universal Television. The Paris Widow is a gripping and propulsive cat-and-mouse thriller and a perfect example of the compelling stories to come from this partnership.”
Kimberly Belle said: "I am beyond thrilled to be partnering with the team at Little Bell and ColorCreative alongside Universal Television to develop The Paris Widow series. Stella is a resourceful and complex character with a few surprises up her sleeve, and I’m certain she’s in excellent hands. Europe is my part-time home, but I’ve been waiting for the right story to take the setting overseas. The Paris Widow fit the bill—a high-stakes, female-driven plot big enough to share the stage with a city as glamorous and picture-perfect as Paris."
