SHOWTIME(R) ORDERS COMEDY PILOT "THE WOOD"

Justin Hillian To Write and Executive Produce; Rick Famyuiwa To Direct and Executive Produce Produced by Paramount Television Studios

LOS ANGELES - August 24, 2021 - SHOWTIME has announced a pilot order for the comedy series THE WOOD, based on the feature film written and directed by Rick Famuyiwa (THE CHI, Dope). Famuyiwa will direct the pilot and executive produce with Justin Hillian (THE CHI, Snowfall), who will write the script. The project is a production of Paramount Television Studios. The announcement was made today by Gary Levine and Jana Winograde, Presidents of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc.

THE WOOD is an honest look at friendship and dating from the perspective of three young Black males born and raised in the gentrifying L.A. suburb of Inglewood, fondly referred to by locals as the City Of Champions. The trio's struggles to balance fatherhood, ambition and loyalty force them to question if they are growing apart ... or closer together. With a knowing nod back to the characters of the 1999 film on which it is based, this romantic comedy showcases the humor and heart of young Black men and women trying to navigate life, love and likes on the 'Gram.

Famuyiwa was raised in Inglewood. In addition to directing the feature film version of The Wood, originally released in 1999, Famuyiwa earned NAACP Image Awards(R) for Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Television) for Confirmation and Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Theatrical or Television) for Talk to Me. In addition, Famuyiwa won the African-American Film Critics Association(R) award for Best Screenplay for Dope, which he also directed. His other film projects as both writer and director include Our Family Wedding and Brown Sugar. For television, Famuyiwa shared a Writers Guild of American nomination for Drama Series for The Mandalorian. Famuyiwa directed the pilot episode of THE CHI, on which he has served as an executive producer since its premiere.

In addition to serving as showrunner on THE CHI since the beginning of its third season, Hillian earned a Black Reel Awards nomination for Outstanding Writing, Drama Series for his work on Snowfall. His other television credits include I'M DYING UP HERE and Superstore.

THE WOOD is executive produced by Justin Hillian, Rick Famuyiwa, David Gale and Van Toffler.

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