# Fox Entertainment Studios Partners With Cottage Industry Entertainment Fox secures a first-look deal with Lisa Hamilton Daly and Alysia Cotter Thomas. - **Source:** [Variety – TV](https://variety.com/v/tv) - **Published:** 2026-11-05 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/c7fb0177-9065-4ee4-8580-fedb17d776c0 ## Strategic Production Partnership Fox Entertainment Studios has finalized a first-look development and producing agreement with Cottage Industry Entertainment. This new production company was founded by industry veterans Lisa Hamilton Daly and Alysia Cotter Thomas. The partnership aims to create a diverse slate of scripted television series and feature films for the studio's growing portfolio. ## Scripted Television Slate The collaboration includes several high-profile television projects currently in development. Fox has optioned Danielle Steel’s novel The Whittiers for a series adaptation. Other projects include a family drama by Jordanna Fraiberg, an adaptation of Lindsay MacMillan’s Summer on Lilac Island, and a comedy titled Mom’s Place, written by Angela Kinsey and Audrey Wauchope. ## Film Development Projects Cottage Industry is also actively developing multiple feature films alongside Fox Entertainment Studios. These include the hockey-themed romantic comedy It All Comes Down to This, an adaptation of Adriana Trigiani’s The View from Lake Como, and a film version of Cynthia Hand’s novel The Afterlife of Holly Chase, currently being adapted by screenwriters. ## Focus on Female-Driven Stories The founders established Cottage Industry Entertainment with a specific mission to produce emotionally engaging, female-driven storytelling. Their creative scope spans various genres, including romantic comedies, family dramas, mysteries, and thrillers. They aim to develop content that possesses both a clear point of view and strong commercial appeal for a broad audience base. ## Leadership Creative Vision Hannah Pillemer, head of scripted at Fox Entertainment Studios, praised the founders for their creative instincts and deep industry experience. She noted that their combined expertise in developing successful series and championing creative voices aligns perfectly with the studio's goals. The partnership is designed to leverage these strengths to produce enduring, high-quality content. ## Background of the Founders Lisa Hamilton Daly brings extensive experience from her previous roles at Hallmark Media, Netflix, Lifetime, and A+E Films. Alysia Cotter Thomas previously worked as a literary agent at Paradigm and held positions at Warner Bros., Legendary Entertainment, and Working Title. Their combined backgrounds provide a comprehensive understanding of both creative development and business strategy. ## Shared Strategic Objectives The founders stated that Fox Entertainment Studios has been a vital partner in bringing their creative vision to life. They emphasized a shared belief in stories that entertain and move audiences. By working closely with Hannah Pillemer’s team, they intend to balance the creative and business requirements necessary for successful film and television production. ## Industry Impact and Outlook This deal signifies a strategic move by Fox to secure a pipeline of content from experienced creative executives. By focusing on established literary adaptations and known writing talent, the studio aims to mitigate development risks. The success of this partnership will likely depend on the commercial performance of their upcoming slate of projects. ## Sources covering this story - https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/fox-entertainment-studios-deal-cottage-industry-1236940651/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._