Spears

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Friday, March 19, 1999 11:59:35 AM EST

HOLLYWOOD (Reuters) -- Following in Brandy's footsteps, teen recording star Britney Spears has signed a development deal with Columbia TriStar TV.

Spears' chart-topping debut album "... Baby One More Time" is one of the biggest sellers of 1999, with sales of more than 1.5 million units in nine weeks of release. It is currently No. 3 on the charts.

As the producer of the WB's "Dawson's Creek," Fox's "Party of Five" and the upcoming Fox drama pilot based on the feature "Cruel Intentions," Columbia is gaining a reputation as the TV studio most tapped into the current trend toward teen projects.

"They have a great expertise in that area," said Rob Lee of Elephant Walk Management, which represents the 17-year-old Spears for film and TV.

As part of the 18-month development deal, Spears will star in a three-episode arc of "Dawson's Creek," and Columbia will try to develop a drama or comedy for her. Nothing will be ready for fall, and Lee said the series would have to fit into her recording and touring schedule.

"Look at the Brandy experience," Lee said. "One doesn't have to hurt the other, one feeds the other. The key is to time it so one doesn't get in the way of the other."

Brandy stars in the UPN sitcom "Moesha" and continues to record albums.

Copyright 1999 /Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.