Jane the Virgin star Gina Rodriguez has not one, but two projects in the works, and they have ramifications in our current political climate.
According to HuffPost, Deadline reports that Rodriguez “sold the series “Illegal” and “Have Mercy,” which will both focus on Latino immigrant stories,” all of which follows recent moves to end legislation that protects young undocumented immigrants from being deported.
Written by Jane the Virgin writer Rafael Agustin, the first show — Illegal — will be developed by The CW, says Bustle, and will detail the life of a 16-year-old student who is based on Agustin himself and grappling with learning of his undocumented status as a teen.
While Illegal follows more of a dramedy format, HuffPost says the second show, called Have Mercy, is a drama about a Latina doctor who takes a job as a nurse’s assistant after being “unable to practice medicine once she immigrates to Miami.”
Commenting on her forthcoming shows, Rodriguez shared her excitement on Twitter this way:
“For years this is all I wanted to do. Bring Latino stories to the screen to create love, tolerance and empathy. LATINOS STAND UP!”