Here are three quick developments with some recognizable HBO talents behind them.
To start, we note that Issa Rae of INSECURE, is out to executive produce other content for HBO and this time around it will be a drama. It will be about Los Angeles and the turbulent times that city faced in the 1990’s. No official title for the project is given but it will center on an African-American family of the day. The drama will center on the marriage of Sheryl and Jackson, with the former an envelope bounds-pushing real estate agent and the latter a conflicted LAPD anti-gang task force recruit. The potential series will also feature the couples’ teen daughter and son, Ebony and Les.
Novelist Angela Flournoy, writer of “The Turner House” is said to write the project. Rae states that “I’m so thrilled to be working with Angela. I was a huge fan of “The Turner House” and we feel so lucky to bring her beautiful storytelling to HBO.” It is not a given the series is a go for sure, but we will let readers know if it is picked up.
Mark Ruffalo, of HBO’s THE NORMAL HEART, has the opportunity to take his turn at a limited drama series. It certainly is a successful format for HBO. He will be starring in THIS MUCH IS TRUE.
It is based on a popular book, the 1998 novel of the same name by bestselling author Wally Lamb. It is described as an epic family saga that explores the American identity following the parallel lives of twin brothers Dominick and Thomas Birdsey throughout the latter half of the 20th century. Ruffalo will pull double duty, starring as both brothers. I guess if James Franco can do it in THE DEUCE Ruffalo can give it a try. Also producing alongside Ruffalo and serving as director will be Derek Cianfrance, recently of 2016’s Light Between Oceans.
John Oliver, executive producer & host of LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER, is now launching a new show. Wyatt Cenac, who like Oliver is from The Daily Show, will serve as host of a yet to be titled comedic docuseries for the network. It is said to be a 10-episode late night series that will be a satirical look at social and cultural issues examined 
by Cenac as he travels out on the road for his stories. It will be an attempt to understand some of the big issues of the moment and investigate real-world solutions. Oliver & company are hustling on it too because it is slated to begin in the spring of 2018. What? Are they going to call it THIS WEEK NOW WITH WYATT CENAC? We don’t know as there is no official title yet. We will keep our eyes open for Wyatt in the new year.
HBO has put in development a untitled half-hour single-camera comedy about the sneaker culture phenomenon. Who better to know anything about sneakers but a professional basketball player and (you could argue) who better than LeBron James.
Written by Shawn Wines (of HBO’s HIGH MAINTENANCE) and Lemon Andersen (She’s Gotta Have It), the untitled Sneaker Store Project centers on two best friends and their wild employees at an up-and-coming sneaker shop outside L.A., where they take on the insane and obsessive world of sneaker culture. James serves as an executive producer. So there you go, LeBron James is in the HBO Game. Will this show get a slam dunk? Perhaps in 2018.
Exciting developments are ahead in 2018. Only time will tell if any/all of these will come to fruition. Stay tuned.
