Netflix orders The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia from Mario Lopez

Updated 28-05-19 | Staff Reporter

Netflix is preparing to explore The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia with the commissioning of a new comedy series.

Co-created by Mario Lopez (Saved by the Bell) and Seth Kurland (Speechless), the Latinx family comedy will follow Ashley Garcia — the world’s only 15-and-a-half-year-old robotics engineer and rocket scientist. When she gets the chance to work for NASA, she moves across the country to live with her fun-loving Uncle, Victor, a pro football player turned high school coach who’s never met a responsibility he can’t shirk.

Lopez, who is best known for playing A.C. Slater on Saved by the Bell, comments: “I am excited for the opportunity to partner with Netflix to tell a universal, family-friendly story with a Latin flavor!”

David Kendall (Melissa & Joey, Boy Meets World, Growing Pains) joins him and Kurland as writer and executive producer, with Mark Schulman at 3 Arts Entertainment on board as a consultant.

In front of the camera, newcomer Paulina Chavez stars as Ashley and singer and actor Jencarlos Canela (Telenovela, Grand Hotel) stars as Victor.

Netflix has ordered 16 episodes of the multi-cam series. It joins Netflix’s growing slate of live action series featuring kids and families, which includes No Good Nick from David H. Steinberg and Keetgi Kogan, Alexa & Katie from Heather Wordham (two seasons streaming now, with a third on the way), as well as Malibu Rescue from Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas, Family Reunion from Meg DeLoatch, Team Kaylie from Tracy Bitterolf and Pamela Eells O’Connell, and The Baby-Sitters Club from Walden Media and Michael De Luca.