FX NETWORKS ORDERS COMEDY SERIES PILOT "ATLANTA" FROM AWARD-WINNING ACTOR AND WRITER DONALD GLOVER
Glover to Write and Star in Pilot for FX Productions
LOS ANGELES, December 12, 2014 - FX Networks has ordered the comedy series pilot Atlanta created by and starring award-winning actor and writer Donald Glover (Community, 30 Rock), it was announced today by Nick Grad and Eric Schrier, the Presidents of Original Programming for FX Networks and FX Productions.
Glover serves as Executive Producer, along with Paul Simms (Girls, Flight of the Conchords, NewsRadio), and Dianne McGunigle of Schiff Company. The pilot will be produced by FX Productions.
"Donald Glover is a uniquely talented actor and performer who brings real-life experience to this subject matter," said Grad. "Not only is Donald a very gifted actor, he has achieved tremendous success and acclaim as the musical artist Childish Gambino. He, along with Paul Simms, has a very honest, sometimes serious, and funny perspective on life, the world of rap music and the city of Atlanta."
Atlanta revolves around two cousins on their way up through the Atlanta rap scene whose opposing views on art versus commerce, success and race will make their quest anything but easy. Glover will play "Earnest 'Earn' Marks," a college drop-out who reconnects with his long buried ambition and sets out to seize the life he imagined for himself when his estranged cousin becomes a sudden star.
Glover is an award-winning actor and writer best known for playing "Troy" on the Yahoo! (formerly NBC) sitcom Community. As a writer on NBC's 30 Rock, Glover received a WGA Award for best Comedy Series in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Just last week, Childish Gambino received his first ever Grammy Award nominations, collecting two nominations for Best Rap Album for Because the Internet, and Best Rap Performance for 3005.
Atlanta is the fourth comedy series pilot produced or ordered by FX Networks this year, adds to the growing roster of comedies series and projects that is unmatched by any network. FX is currently in production on the comedy series pilot Pariah, starring Bill Burr for Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton. In January FXX will launch Man Seeking Woman, starring Jay Baruchel from Simon Rich, Jonathan Krisel and Broadway Video, and in April FX will premiere The Comedians, starring Billy Crystal and Josh Gad, and next summer FX also launches Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll, starring Denis Leary and John Corbett. Earlier this year, FX ordered Baskets (2016), starring Zach Galifianakis from Galifianakis and Louis C.K. and directed by Jonathan Krisel, and the untitled Tracy Morgan project (TBD).
Those new projects join the existing FX Networks comedy slate which includes Archer (FX), Louie (FX), Married (FX), It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FXX), The League (FXX), and You're the Worst (FXX).
ABOUT FX NETWORKS
FX Networks, a business unit of 21st Century Fox, is comprised of the networks FX, FXX and FXM and the video on-demand app FXNOW. FX, the flagship general entertainment basic cable channel, launched in June of 1994 and is carried in more than 95 million homes. Its diverse schedule features a growing roster of critically acclaimed and award-winning hit dramas, including Justified, The Americans, The Strain and Tyrant; the critically-acclaimed miniseries Fargo, American Horror Story and the upcoming American Crime Story; and the acclaimed hit comedy series Louie, Archer, Married and the upcoming The Comedians, Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll and Baskets. FX's roster of acquired hit series includes Two and a Half Men, In Living Color and Mike & Molly. FXM (formerly Fox Movie Channel) was launched in October of 1994 and is now carried in more than 50 million homes. Its schedule features classic films during the day, and contemporary box office hits and acclaimed, award-winning films in the evening, as well as short-form, award-winning original programming. FXX, the newest network, launched in September 2013 and is carried in more than 76 million homes. Geared toward a young adult audience, FXX features original series, movies and acquired series. The channel is anchored by the acclaimed hit comedies It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, You're the Worst and the upcoming Man Seeking Woman. FXX is also the exclusive cable home to The Simpsons, the longest-running comedy in TV history.
ABOUT FX PRODUCTIONS
FX Productions (FXP) produces FX's newest acclaimed hit drama series The Strain; the comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, Louie, Archer, Married and You're the Worst; and the upcoming comedies Man Seeking Woman (Jan. 2015) and The Untitled Tracy Morgan Project (TBD). FXP co-produces the drama series Justified, The American and Tyrant; the miniseries Fargo, which scored 18 Emmy(R) Award nominations and won the Emmy award for Outstanding miniseries; and the upcoming comedy Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll. In 2014, FXP shows combined to deliver 28 Emmy Award nominations including Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Miniseries, and Outstanding Animated Program.
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