The Wilds: Amazon Studios greenlights YA series

Amazon Studios has ordered the YA drama The Wilds to series.

The Wilds centers on a group of diverse teenage girls who are stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash, according to Deadline. The Amazon show will explore the women’s challenges and delve into what it means to grow up female today.

The series is written and executive produced by Daredevil‘s Sarah Streicher. Amy B. Harris (The Comeback) will executive produce and serve as showrunner. Susanna Fogel (The Spy Who Dumped Me) will direct the pilot.

Of the series pick-up, Streicher said:

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"Coming of age is not for the faint of heart. It can take as much grit and fire to survive our teenage years as it would to survive, say, on a deserted island. The Wilds grew from that notion, and it’s afforded me an opportunity to explore teenage-hood in all of its perils, joys, and heartbreaks. I’m beyond thrilled that it’s found a home at Amazon"

The Wilds was one of three YA pilots ordered by Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios, as part of her initiative to ramp up the streamer’s YA slate.  In addition to The Wilds, the pilot Panic was ordered to series. Meanwhile, College was not picked up.

The Wilds is a co-production with ABC Signature Studios, which is part of Disney. It’s the Studios’ first Amazon series.

Of the new show, Amazon head Salke said:

"We are thrilled to share this exciting original vision with our global audience. We are proud to be the home for this authentically voiced, high stakes show brought to life by the talented Sarah Streicher, Amy B. Harris and our ABC Signature Studios partners."

The series sounds like it hits the sweet spot of YA dystopia with a splash of social commentary. This could be highly appealing to fans of the genre. Although if it’s too heavy-handed with its social messages it could be a turn off for many viewers.

Still, if a certain segment of online trolls has proven anything it’s that they’re likely to take issue with a show that explores women’s issues no matter how balanced its execution. For the rest of us, if the show deals with contemporary issues in a sensitive, thought-provoking way, this could be a winner for Amazon. The streaming service is growing its YA content and has a lot riding on the series, so if it works out, it could signal that Amazon should continue to expand its YA slate.

Are you looking forward to seeing The Wilds when it drops on Amazon Prime? Share your thoughts in the comments.