“Shameless” alum Emmy Rossum has signed a first-look deal with Universal Content Productions, a rep for NBCUniversal tells TheWrap.
As part of the deal, Rossum will develop premium scripted content for the studio under her own Composition 8 production banner.
The actress and director departed Showtime’s “Shameless” in late August after nine seasons of playing Fiona Gallagher. Her husband, “Mr. Robot” creator Sam Esmail, recently renewed his own deal at UCP in February — together, they are developing a new limited series starring Rossum called “Angelyne,” based on an investigation by The Hollywood Reporter writer Gary Baum of the notorious L.A. billboard fixture of the same name.
After having directed two episodes of “Shameless” in 2016 and 2017, Rossum has gone on to direct an episode of TNT’s “Animal Kingdom” and Amazon’s upcoming series “Modern Love.”
Rossum is the latest to join UCP’s list of first-look deals, including Kathleen Robertson, John Carpenter and Charlize Theron‘s Denver and Delilah. The studio’s other projects include “The Act,” Netflix’s “The Umbrella Academy,” USA’s “Mr. Robot,” and Bravo’s “Dirty John.”
Rossum’s film credits include her role as Christine opposite Gerard Butler in 2004’s “The Phantom of the Opera,” as well as Esmail’s “Comet,” “The Day After Tomorrow” and “Mystic River.”
The news was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter.