George Stephanopoulos & Ali Wentworth Producing New York Real Estate Drama In Works At Hulu As Streamer’s Onyx Pilot Is Not Moving Forward

EXCLUSIVE: Hulu remains interested in launching a drama series set in the world of high-end New York real estate. The streamer has put in development The Pinnacle, written and executive produced by Damon Cardasis (Mr. Scorsese, Saturday Church) and Jamieson Baker (Almost A Year) and executive produced by George Stephanopoulos and Ali Wentworth.

Last year, Hulu ordered an Onyx untitled real estate drama pilot from Roberto Patino and Cassius Corrigan, which Deadline can reveal didn’t move forward. It followed a cutthroat battle to dominate the Manhattan skyline, where two rival real estate developers (Edgar Ramírez and Jacob Scipio) risk everything — wealth, family and their souls — as their ambition turns into obsession, and their partnership turns into war.

Set in the cutthroat world of New York City real estate, The Pinnacle is the story of ambitious and streetsmart Charlie Mahoney, who is catapulted to the heart of the billionaire Van Buren family and their dazzling penthouse on New York’s Billionaire’s Row after becoming the sobriety companion to their troubled son, Theo. As he gains their trust and acclimates to their sumptuous lifestyle, Charlie must navigate scheming staff, suspicious friends and romantic entanglements while hiding a secret of his own and securing his permanent place in New York’s ultra wealthy circles.

Stephanopoulos, Wentworth and Alyssa Mastromonaco executive produce via Stephanopoulos and Wentworth’s Bedby8 alongside Tracy Underwood via her Hustle & Punch. Both banners have deals with 20th Television, which is the studio on The Pinnacle.

Baker directed and co-wrote with Katie Holmes the narrative short Almost A Year, which premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival. Previously, Jamieson was a talent and literary manager at Untitled Entertainment where he also packaged multiple film and television projects, including the half-hour comedy Betty for HBO and Gia Coppola’s Mainstream, among others. He’s repped by CAA, Untitled and Johnson, Shapiro, Slewett & Kole.

Cardasis executive produced the Martin Scorsese documentary, Mr. Scorsese, which received its World Premiere at the New York Film Festival. The five-part series earned a Directors Guild and two Critics Choice awards, along with PGA, Peabody and Gotham TV award nominations. He also co-wrote the musical adaptation of Saturday Church, based on his critically acclaimed feature. His additional producing credits include Rebecca Miller’s She Came To Me and Maggie’s Plan, and Emmy-nominated HBO documentary Arthur Miller: Writer. He’s repped by CAA, 42, and Sloss, Eckhouse, Dasti & Haynes.

Bedby8 is focused on creating scripted television projects, limited series, and documentaries. The company produced the critically acclaimed documentary Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields, which premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.

Hustle & Punch goes into production this fall on the Tony McNamara series Mosquito, starring Nicholas Hoult and Daisy Edgar Jones.