Zooey Deschanel launches production company

The star of Fox’s “New Girl” is now also focusing on producing.

Zooey Deschanel and her Hello Giggles partner Sophia Rossi have launched both a production shingle and signed a first- look deal with 20th Century Fox Television, which produces “New Girl.” The deal is for two years.

The duo will focus on developing both comedies and dramas.

If “New Girl” writer- producer J.J. Philbin's comedy “Must Be Nice” received a pilot order at Fox, Deschanel, Rossi and Molly McAleer (the female- centric Hello Giggles Web site co-founder, and of “2 Broke Girls”) would have been exec producers on the potential series, from 20th Century TV and “New Girl's” Chernin Entertainment.

The half- hour series looked at a generation gap between two sisters who are actually only seven years apart, as a disordered, single 27- year- old moves in with her more responsible, 34-year-old sister who is married.

Deschanel has a producer credit on “New Girl.” Besides the hit TV series Deschanel has appeared in “500 Days of Summer,” “Yes Man” and “The Happening,” among others.

She is represented by UTA, Seven Summits and Hanson Jacobson. Rossi is repped by UTA, Ziffren Brittenham and 3 Arts.