Hulu has given out a pilot order to Nick Paley‘s comedy “Phony” with Connie Britton now set for a lead role, Variety has learned.
The pilot is described as a coming-of-age mystery. The official logline states that it follows “a teenager who wakes up in the hospital after a car accident to discover his mom (Britton) — his only parent and his best friend — appears to have been replaced by an impostor.”
Britton’s character is named Ellen, who is described as “a single mom to Sonny and the principal of his high school.”
The project was originally set for development at Hulu in 2022. Paley serves as writer, executive producer, and director on the pilot. Paley most recently co-wrote the popular indie film “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On” and previously served as a director on “Broad City” at Comedy Central.
Britton will executive produce in addition to starring. Charlie Alderman of Charlie’s Production Company also executive produces along with Drew Goddard and Sarah Esberg via Goddard Textiles. Andrea Massaro of Goddard Textiles will produce. 20th Television is the studio. It had previously been set up at ABC Signature, but that studio was recently folded into 20th TV.
This is the latest comedy pilot set up at Hulu in recent months. The streamer is also currently prepping the pilot “Downforce” starring Murray Bartlett and Eve Hewson, set in the world of professional auto racing.
Britton is a five-time Emmy Award nominee — two for “Friday Night Lights,” one for “American Horror Story,” one for “Nashville,” and one for “The White Lotus.” Her other TV credits include “Dirty John,” “9-1-1,” “Spin City,” “The West Wing,” and “24.” In film, she also starred in the film version of “Friday Night Lights” as well as features like “Promising Young Woman,” “Bombshell,” “Beatriz at Dinner,” “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,” and “American Ultra.”
Britton is repped by CAA, Untitled Entertainment, Hansen Jacobson, and The Initiative Group. Paley is repped by Entertainment 360. Goddard is repped by UTA.