EXCLUSIVE: ReelShort is adapting another title from author Cora Reilly’s ‘Born In Blood Mafia Chronicles’ as a microdrama. The latest vertical drama installment in the franchise is Bound by Duty, which drops on the streaming app on August 13.
The ‘Born In Blood Mafia Chronicles’ adaptations are among the most successful book-to-vertical franchises on Crazy Maple Studio’s ReelShort platform.
It will hope the new series builds on the success of the related Bound by Honor show, which it said has topped 423M views, and Bound by Love, which it said topped 70M views since launch in May.
Bound by Duty follows Dante, the calculating heir to the Chicago mafia, and Valentina, a young widow who refuses to settle for another loveless marriage. As the two struggle to move beyond their pasts, their marriage of convenience evolves into an unexpected love story.
Well-known vertical drama actors Casey Schryer and Chase Mattson star in the series, which fits into the ‘dark romance’ genre at ReelShort.
Reilly specializes in mafia romance stories. Thus far, her ‘Born In Blood Mafia Chronicles’ comprises eight novels and an anthology. Bound by Duty will be the third microdrama adaptation.
“What has always drawn readers to Dante and Valentina is that their story isn’t about instant love,” the author said. “It’s about two people carrying the weight of grief, obligation and past heartbreak who slowly learn to trust each other.”
She added: “Bound by Duty explores a quieter, more emotional side of the ‘Born In Blood Mafia Chronicles’ and I’m excited to see that journey brought to life in a new way.”
Launched by Crazy Maple Studio in 2022, ReelShort streams English-language vertical dramas designed for mobile. Seasons have 70-80 eps running to one-to-two minutes. Usually, some episodes are offered for free, with viewers needing a subscription or to access eps via pay-per-view, to see the remaining installments.
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