Maitland Ward Signs on as Producer/Star of New TV Sitcom

LOS ANGELES—Reigning AVN Best Leading Actress Maitland Ward is set to return to her mainstream television roots as the star and producer of new comedy series The Big Time, now in development with Leaving Normal Productions and slated to begin shooting in May. The Big Time stars Ward as a world-famous adult actress trying to save a waning production studio on the brink of collapse by hiring a nerdy aspiring writer to help breathe new life into her scenes. Brett Azar of NBC's Young Rock has been tapped to co-star. "When I read the script, I fell in love and immediately knew I'd want to be a part of it in a significant and impactful way," Ward said. "It's exciting for me to be able to marry my creative talents as an actress and my experience in the adult world to create such an original, fun character and a powerful female-driven, sex-positive project—and to be inolved as a producer takes all of this to a new level." The series, created by Leaving Normal writing duo Zerelda Nothnagel and Mikey Rodriguez, is executive produced by Rob Alicea and, along with Ward, produced by Charlie Alberto IV and Tim O'Hanlon of Velvet Horizon Films. "We are beyond thrilled to have Maitland Ward be a part of The Big Time, both as the star and producer," Nothnagel said. "She brings invaluable insight and authenticity to a subject that is often misunderstood, and does so through a sex-positive lens." Ward famously comes from an extensive background in mainstream film and TV, best known for her work in Boy Meets World, The Bold and the Beautiful and White Chicks. She made the leap into adult in 2019, earning high praise and multiple industry awards for her performances as a contract star for Vixen Media Group. Follow Maitland Ward on AVN Stars, Twitter and Instagram @MaitlandWard.