Jenny Slate & Ari Graynor To Topline FX Comedy Pilot From ‘Obvious Child’ Duo

FX Networks has officially ordered a comedy pilot co-created by Gillian Robespierre and Elisabeth Holm (Obvious Child), which will be starring Jenny Slate and Ari Graynor. Robespierre will direct the pilot from the script from her and Holm, with the two executive producing along with Ravi Nandan and John Hodges of A24 Films and Slate for FX Productions.

The pilot is described as an honest comedy exploring the adult female friendship of two creative partners — Lou (Slate) and Viv (Graynor) — as they embark on a cross-country road trip. Gutsy born and raised New Yorkers, Lou and Viv discover each other in their 30s, make a movie together, and jump into the great unknown of their next project. Lou and Viv find strength and vulnerability in each other, learning how to have a fight and somehow still get back in the car. It’s like Thelma and Louise — but nobody dies.

Deadline broke the news of the project in March when Slate switched from a regular to recurring status on the FX comedy series Married in order to focus on the new project for the network, with the support of the Married producers. The pilot marks a reunion — as it is being written by two of the co-writers behind the 2014 Sundance romantic comedy Obvious Child starring Slate: Robespierre, who made her directorial debut on the indie, and Holm. The three loved their collaboration on Obvious Child, which started out as a short in 2009, and have remained friends.

This marks the first major project for the trio and A24 Films since the feature, which has nabbed a number of awards: Robespierre was honored with the National Board of Review USA Award for Best Directorial Debut, Holm won the Red Crown Producer’s Award at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, and Slate received the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Movie.

Graynor most recently starred on the CBS comedy Bad Teacher. Robespierre and Holm are both repped by UTA. Slate is repped by WME, 3 Arts Entertainment, and Josh Sandler. Graynor is repped by UTA, Authentic Talent and Literary Management and Lichter, Grossman.

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