Showtime has ordered a pilot for a comedy series based on Rick Famuyiwa’s 1999 cult-classic film, The Wood. The news was announced at Showtime’s Television Critics Association executive panel.
Famuyiwa will direct the pilot and executive produce with The Chi showrunner Justin Hillian, who will write the script.
The description reads: 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.
The original film followed two separate timelines in the three friends’ lives, it starred Taye Diggs, Omar Epps and Richard T. Jones as the core three in the young adult timeline and Sean Nelson, Duane Finley and Trent Cameron as the teens. Malinda Williams, LisaRaye McCoy, De’Aundre Bonds and Tamala Jones also starred.
The project is from Paramount Television Studios. It is executive produced by Justin Hillian, Rick Famuyiwa, David Gale and Van Toffler.