Starz Announces 2026 TakeTheLead Writing Fellows

The network selects four emerging writers for its fifth annual professional development intensive program.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Television

Starz Announces 2026 TakeTheLead Writing Fellows

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Starz has unveiled the four writers chosen for its fifth annual #TakeTheLead intensive, a program designed to foster emerging television talent. Each participant will receive a $5,000 grant and access to industry mentorship.

Why it matters

The program provides essential resources and development opportunities to new writers, helping them navigate the competitive television industry. By facilitating sessions with showrunners and executives, Starz offers fellows a platform to hone their material.

This marks the fifth year of the #TakeTheLead intensive program. Each of the four selected fellows is awarded a $5,000 grant to support their work during the mentorship process.

The players

Starz

A premium global media and entertainment company that operates a streaming service and produces original television content.

Daniela Bailes

An emerging writer who was selected as one of the four fellows for the 2026 #TakeTheLead intensive program.

Carla Olivia Torres

An emerging writer named as a fellow for the 2026 #TakeTheLead initiative.

Laura Hunter Drago

An emerging writer selected to participate in the fifth annual #TakeTheLead development program.

David Mahmoudieh

An emerging writer who earned a fellowship position in the 2026 #TakeTheLead intensive.

The details

Fellows Daniela Bailes, Carla Olivia Torres, Laura Hunter Drago, and David Mahmoudieh participate in career-building sessions led by active showrunners and writers. These participants develop their own material alongside professionals before pitching their work to Starz leadership.

The fifth annual #TakeTheLead program took place in 2026.

Industry Dynamics

This program follows a pattern set by legacy studio talent initiatives in providing structured access to television executives and showrunners. Such programs remain a primary mechanism for networks to scout and cultivate new voices within a shifting entertainment landscape.

These fellowships influence the pipeline of future television content available on premium networks and streaming platforms. Viewers can expect the writers nurtured by these programs to potentially shape the creative direction of future series and programming slates.

The takeaway

Emerging writers gain valuable industry experience through mentorship and financial grants during these intensive programs. Such initiatives serve as a professional bridge, helping new voices transition into active roles within the competitive television sector.