Bella Thorne starring in drama pilot

Actress Bella Thorne is set to star in a romantic TV drama pilot led by Pretty Little Liars creator I. Marlene King.

Bosses at the ABC Family network have given the go-ahead for the show, titled Famous in Love, based on author Rebecca Serle's popular novel of the same name.

The former Disney star will play a college student who gets an unexpected big break when she lands a leading role in a Hollywood blockbuster.

King, who wrote the pilot script with Serle, is no stranger to adapting books to the small screen - her hit Pretty Little Liars is based on the teen mystery novel series of the same name.