Variety exclusively reports that writer and showrunner Alena Smith has signed with WME for full representation rights. The station will work with Smith to further develop her approach to storytelling in film and television.
Mr. Smith is best known for creating the Apple TV series “Dickinson,” a comedic and anachronistic look at the childhood of famous poet Emily Dickinson. The series, starring Hailee Steinfeld, was one of the first shows launched under the then-Apple TV+ banner. Notable guest stars also include John Mulaney, Zosia Mamet, Billy Eichner, Wiz Khalifa, and Chloe Fineman. It ultimately aired for three seasons and 30 episodes, and won a Peabody Award for its first season in 2019.
In addition to directing the series finale, Smith served as showrunner and executive producer on “Dickinson.” The costumes, props, and set pieces were then used in the renovation of the Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Smith began her career in television as a staff writer during the third season of HBO’s hit series “The Newsroom.” She then went on to work as a writer and co-producer on the critically acclaimed Showtime drama The Affair. She currently serves as an executive producer on the FX limited series “Cry Wolf,” starring Olivia Colman and Brie Larson.
Smith is also an accomplished playwright, with published works including “Iceberg,” “The Bad Guys,” and “The New Sincerity.” The Bad Guys was later made into a film starring Glen Powell in 2018.
