Bridgerton creator Chris Van Dusen will soon transport fans from the elite world of Regency London’s high society to one of Southern California's most exclusive enclaves in his new series, Calabasas.
The YA drama from the Emmy-nominated producer and writer is coming to Netflix, with Van Dusen showrunning and executive producing alongside fellow EPs Kim Kardashian, Alexandra Milchan , and Emma Roberts. Martin Salgo of Crescent Line Productions, Karah Preiss and Matt Matruski of Belletrist, and David Sweeney will also serve as executive producers on the TV show.
“I’ll forever be trying to wrap my head around being lucky enough to get to work with creative partners this smart, supportive, and ambitious,” Van Dusen says.
The new series is inspired by Via Bleidner’s 2021 book, If You Lived Here You’d be Famous by Now: True Stories from Calabasas. Bleidner is also serving as an executive producer on the project. The story takes place at an elite private school in the country’s most exclusive town. The headmaster’s ambitious daughter is destined to have it all — until she’s swept into a forbidden romance with the one boy determined to burn down her glittering world instead of play by its rules. In Calabasas, where desires are never as clean as appearances suggest, falling in love might be the most dangerous rebellion of all.
“Calabasas is the kind of series I’ve always dreamed of making. It’s the kind of glamorous, bold, addictive, and emotionally-charged show I grew up obsessed with,” Van Dusen says. “The great teen dramas of that era proved TV could be escapist, provocative, and deeply personal all at once. To get to bring that type of wild ride to today’s audiences is incredibly exciting.”
Calabasas is a place where dreams come true … but not without complications and unforeseen consequences. This is the first show announced under a new creative partnership between Netflix and Van Dusen. As part of the new deal, Van Dusen will develop and executive-produce new scripted series, exclusively for Netflix.
Even before this newly announced deal, Netflix and Van Dusen collaborated on multiple projects, including the hit series Bridgerton. The Bridgerton Universe has dominated the Netflix Top 10, cracking the Global Top 10 over 60 times and reaching country Top 10 lists in all countries tracked. Seasons 1 and 3 are also currently on Netflix’s English TV All-Time Most Popular list, with both having exceeded 100 million views in their first 91 days on service.
Jinny Howe, head of scripted series, US and Canada, is looking forward to Netflix’s latest collaboration with Van Dusen. “It’s exciting to reunite with Chris Van Dusen and bring his distinct voice to Calabasas, alongside the powerhouse team of Kim Kardashian, Emma Roberts, and Alexandra Milchan,” she says. “Full of romance and complicated relationships, this coming-of-age story is as emotionally sharp as it is grounded in the complex reality of finding your authentic self. We’re excited for this new creative chapter with Chris, and to work closely with him to bring this vibrant world to life.”
Calabasas will join Netflix’s expansive slate of YA stories centered on relatable, authentic characters — from breakout hits like Ginny & Georgia, Outer Banks, and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder to unique coming‑of‑age series such as Forever, My Life with the Walter Boys, and XO, Kitty. You can also keep an eye out for upcoming series including The Body, Poser, Little House on the Prairie, and the Victorious spin-off Hollywood Arts.
The series will also be in good company among Netflix’s many other book adaptations, including People We Meet On Vacation and His & Hers, as well as the upcoming The God of the Woods and This Summer Will Be Different. Last year, book-based titles drove more than 9 billion global views, making up nearly 20% of all hours watched on Netflix. That momentum shows no sign of slowing down in 2026, as adaptations held the No. 1 spot on the Top 10 English TV list for 8 of the first 13 weeks of the year.
Return to Tudum for more updates on Calabasas.
