EXCLUSIVE: John Wells, one of the creative forces behind NBC drama series The West Wing, is heading back to The District for his latest project.

Deadline understands that Wells has teamed up with Phoebe Fisher, one of the creators and showrunners behind Amazon’s series adaptation of Cruel Intentions, on a new political drama series.

The Aisle is in development at Netflix with Fisher writing and Wells exec producing.

The series follows the young and ambitious staff of a newly appointed senator, who set out to prove that courage and conviction still have a place in American democracy, while juggling the sexy, high-stakes chaos of their personal lives in a city where power seduces, and every win comes at a price.

Described as “The West Wing-meets-Industry”, the series explores the new generation navigating politics in Washington D.C. Netflix declined to comment.

Wells will produce through his John Wells Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, where he has been based for the majority of his television career. He and Fisher will exec produce alongside Erin Jontow, Kristin Martini, Jacob Epstein and Justin Wolf.

Wells exec produced The West Wing, which ran for seven seasons on NBC between 1999 and 2006. Alongside creator Aaron Sorkin and director Thomas Schlamme, the trio oversaw the first four seasons of the show, which won the Outstanding Drama Series Emmy in its first three seasons, before becoming head writer when Sorkin left.

Wells is also behind series including ER and Third Watch and he exec produces HBO Max’s The Pitt, which has been renewed for a second season. Other recent projects including Fox’s lifeguard drama Rescue: HI-Surf.

It is his latest project at Netflix; Wells exec produced Margaret Qualley-led Maid and Eric Bana-fronted Untamed. Unaccustomed Earth, a drama based on Jhumpa Lahiri’s collection of short stories that he is writing, exec producing and serving as showrunner on, was handed a series ordered earlier this year.

It’s also somewhat of a return to DC for Fisher, whose Cruel Intentions series was set in the city, following rich students at a college. Fisher co-created and served as co-showrunner with Sara Goodman on the series, which premiered on Amazon last year. Fisher’s other credits include Amazon’s I Know What You Did Last Summer. She has also worked on HBO’s Euphoria, and co-wrote feature Down Low with Lukas Gage.  

Wells is represented by CAA and Fisher is represented by UTA, Lighthouse Management & Media, and Ginsburg Daniels Kallis LLP.