Universal is taking on an exciting new literary project. Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, a powerhouse producer best known for her collaborations with Jennifer Lopez on films such as Hustlers, is working alongside Darren Star, the creator behind Sex and the City, to adapt her debut novel for television.
Universal Television acquired the rights to Climbing in Heels ahead of its April 29 release by St. Martin’s Press. Goldsmith-Thomas and Star will co-write and executive-produce the series, bringing the story to life on screen.
The novel provides a captivating glimpse into 1980s Hollywood, chronicling the ascent of five determined assistants navigating a glamorous yet cutthroat industry. Star described the upcoming project as an “addictive fictional account of Hollywood … through a female lens,” likening it to a daring blend of Mad Men and Sex and the City.
Goldsmith-Thomas’s extensive Hollywood background includes her time as a leading agent representing icons like Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Madonna, and Spike Lee. She later transitioned into producing films such as Maid in Manhattan and Mona Lisa Smile. Currently, she serves as president of Lopez’s production company, Nuyorican Productions.
Expressing her excitement about the adaptation, Goldsmith-Thomas stated that she is “thrilled to be partnering with Darren Star and Universal Television to bring life to these complicated, colorful women who refused to be sidelined or silenced.”