'The L Word' Star Jennifer Beals And Showrunner Ilene Chaiken Back Together For 'Venice'

Jennifer Beals and Ilene Chaiken are joining forces for a new ABC drama Venice, Deadline reports. Beals and Chaiken have previously worked together on the hit Showtime series The L Word, as the the star and showrunner/executive producer, respectively.

Venice, which will take place in Venice, Calif., is a modern adaptation of Romeo & Juliet. Beals will play Lisa Carver, the head of one of two rival families vying for power and fighting forbidden love. The Beals/Chaiken tandem certainly has great potential. The L Word ran for six seasons on Showtime and was praised for its depiction of lesbian characters, who had been underrepresented on television in the past.

Venice will hopefully mark a more permanent return for Beals on television. Since The L Word, Beals had a recurring role on FOX drama Lie To Me and also starred on the short-lived crime drama The Chicago Code. —Hal Sundt