FOX ENTERTAINMENT STUDIOS SIGNS FIRST LOOK DEAL WITH COTTAGE INDUSTRY ENTERTAINMENT

Production Company Led by Lisa Hamilton Daly and Alysia Cotter Thomas Building Robust Slate of Scripted Television Series and Films at FOX

Billion Book Author Danielle Steel's Bestseller The Whittiers Optioned for TV Adaptation

LOS ANGELES, CA - November 5, 2026 - FOX Entertainment Studios has signed Cottage Industry Entertainment, founded by accomplished entertainment executives Lisa Hamilton Daly and Alysia Cotter Thomas, to a first-look development and producing agreement. The deal encompasses a slate of scripted television series and feature films based on both original projects and literary adaptations, including The Whittiers, the New York Times bestselling novel by Danielle Steel, which FOX has recently optioned for television adaptation. Published in 2022, The Whittiers marked Steel's 200th published book, an incredible milestone for an author who has sold an astounding billion books worldwide.

Founded by Hamilton Daly and Cotter Thomas, Cottage Industry Entertainment specializes in emotionally engaging, female-driven storytelling spanning romantic comedies, family dramas, mysteries, thrillers, and other broadly appealing genres. The company's creative approach combines the partners' extensive experience in premium television, feature filmmaking, and literary IP with a focus on developing stories that connect with audiences across platforms.

Under the agreement, FOX and Cottage Industry are developing a growing portfolio of projects across television and film, including:

Television Series

· The Whittiers - Based on the New York Times bestselling novel by Danielle Steel.

· New unannounced one-hour family drama from writer Jordanna Fraiberg currently in development at streaming platform.

· Summer on Lilac Island - Based on the novel by Lindsay MacMillan, with Delondra Mesa attached to write.

· Mom's Place - A comedy project from Angela Kinsey (The Office) and Audrey Wauchope.

Films

· It All Comes Down to This - A hockey-themed romantic comedy based on an original idea from screenwriters Sam Sklaver and Elizabeth Peterson.

· The View from Lake Como - Based on the instant New York Times and USA Today bestselling novel by and adapted by Adriana Trigiani.

· The Afterlife of Holly Chase - Based on the novel by New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Hand and being adapted by Ali Laventhol and Tawnya Bhattacharya.

"Lisa and Alysia bring a terrific combination of creative instincts, industry experience, and a real understanding of what connects with audiences," said Hannah Pillemer, Head of Scripted, FOX Entertainment Studios. "Lisa has helped build some of television's most successful and enduring female-driven series, while Alysia has spent her career developing films and championing filmmakers, storytellers, and other outstanding creative voices. Together, they've created a company with a clear point of view, a strong commercial sensibility, and a growing slate of projects that we're pleased to welcome to FOX."

"FOX Entertainment Studios has been a tremendous partner in helping us build Cottage Industry and bring our creative vision to life," said Lisa Hamilton Daly and Alysia Cotter Thomas, Co-Founders of Cottage Industry Entertainment. "We share a belief in stories that entertain, move people, and keep audiences coming back, whether that's a compelling family drama, a smart romantic comedy, or a suspenseful thriller. Hannah and her team understand both the creative and business sides of what we're building, and we're looking forward to continuing to develop projects together across television and film."

Before co-founding Cottage Industry Entertainment, Lisa Hamilton Daly served as Executive Vice President of Programming for Hallmark Media, where she oversaw original programming and helped expand the network's slate across scripted series, movies, and unscripted entertainment. Under her leadership, Hallmark Channel remained the top entertainment cable network among women 18+, with programming including FOX's The Way Home, When Calls the Heart, Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, Mistletoe Murders, and Ripple, which recently debuted on Netflix in the Top 10. Previously, as Director of Original Series at Netflix, Hamilton Daly worked on successful shows including Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias, and Firefly Lane. Earlier in her career, she held senior programming and production roles at Lifetime and A+E Films, contributing to projects including Flowers in the Attic, Flint, and And Then There Were None.

Alysia Cotter Thomas brings more than two decades of film and television experience spanning major studios, independent production, and talent representation. She was a creative executive at Warner Bros., where she identified and set up projects like A Cinderella Story with Hilary Duff and 300 with Zack Snyder. She was also part of the team that built the Batman franchise with Christopher Nolan, as well as Louise Leterrier's Clash of the Titans. She then became vice president at Legendary Entertainment, where she built on her prior work on hit franchises, contributing to The Dark Knight, 300: Rise of the Empire, and Wrath of the Titans, as well as developing major film franchises and projects such as Spike Jonze's Where the Wild Things Are, among others. She later served as Vice President of Creative Affairs at Working Title in London, working with leading international filmmakers and talent. Most recently, as a literary agent at Paradigm, Thomas helped develop and package film and television projects, including Ross Evan's spec script How to Save a Marriage, which sold to Sony Pictures.

About Cottage Industry Entertainment

Founded by Lisa Hamilton Daly and Alysia Cotter Thomas, Cottage Industry Entertainment develops and produces premium scripted television series, feature films, and limited series with a focus on emotionally resonant, female-driven storytelling. From sophisticated romantic comedies and family dramas to mysteries, thrillers, and literary adaptations, the company combines creative expertise, commercial sensibility, and extensive industry relationships to develop entertainment with broad audience appeal.

About FOX Entertainment Studios

FOX Entertainment Studios, a division of FOX Entertainment, includes its in-house unscripted studio, with hits The Masked Singer, I Can See Your Voice, and Name That Tune, as well as the upcoming matrimonial social experiment Marriage Market; and its scripted content studio, featuring comedies Animal Control and Best Medicine, as well as the upcoming comedy Mammoth from the co-creator of Modern Family and the signature legal drama Katie Greaves from producer Ridley Scott's Scott Free Productions, starring Edie Falco.

The studio also oversees the award-winning animation studio Bento Box Entertainment, with animated comedies including Krapopolis, Grimsburg, Hazbin Hotel, and Universal Basic Guys; entertainment platform TMZ, with its tentpole primetime series TMZ Investigates; its independent film label Tideline Entertainment, with award-winning releases including Ponyboi and Slanted; and the culinary and lifestyle content venture Studio Ramsay Global, in partnership with iconic chef Gordon Ramsay. Studio Ramsay Global features food-themed original series on FOX, including Next Level Chef, Kitchen Nightmares, and Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service, as well as No Taste Like Home on Disney+, Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars on Apple TV+, and the documentary series Being Gordon Ramsay on Netflix.

As a global content creator and production partner, FOX Entertainment Studios collaborates with studios and platforms worldwide, including Disney, Hulu, Warner Bros. Discovery, Sony Pictures Television, Prime Video, Netflix, Apple TV+, Hallmark, Lifetime, Versant, TelevisaUnivision, the U.K.'s Channel 4, France's TF1, Germany's ProSieben, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia's Foxtel, and FOX-owned streaming service Tubi, among others.