The New Girl veterans will star in and executive produce the Sony Pictures Television project, which arrives on the 30th anniversary of the Jim Carrey cult classic
Damon Wayans Jr. is having a moment. With Scary Movie leading this weekend’s box office, the comedian and actor is adding another major project to his slate: a Hulu comedy pilot inspired by the 1996 Jim Carrey cult classic The Cable Guy, reuniting him with New Girl co-star Jake Johnson.
Wayans Jr. and Johnson will star in and executive produce the untitled project, which is produced by Sony Pictures Television — whose film studio sibling released the original — alongside Sony TV-based Original Film, the production company behind The Boys franchise. The pilot order lands on the 30th anniversary of the Ben Stiller-directed black comedy’s theatrical debut.
The show is not a remake. Written by Rob Rosell (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) and Joe Piarulli and Luan Thomas (Cobra Kai) — all self-described fans of the original — the pilot takes its creative approach from what FX’s Fargo did with the Coen brothers film: honoring the source material rather than recreating it. That said, the new series keeps closer ties to the original than Fargo did, with Wayans Jr. and Johnson playing versions of the movie’s central characters — Steven Stephens, originated by Matthew Broderick, and Chip Douglas, originated by Carrey, respectively — updated for the streaming age.
The logline reads: “In a world of endless streaming, binging, and algorithms, old-school cable technician Chip Douglas languishes alone — until Steven Stephens calls to have his cable turned back on, reconnecting Chip with a childhood friend he never forgot. The relationship gives each man something he’s been missing… until Chip’s enthusiasm turns into obsession.” The show is described as exploring “the darkly absurd side of modern-day male friendship.”
Rosell, Piarulli, and Thomas will serve as co-showrunners and executive producers alongside Wayans Jr., Johnson, and Original Film’s Neal H. Moritz and Pavun Shetty.
The pilot reunites Wayans Jr. and Johnson, who both appeared in the original New Girl pilot for Fox in 2011. Wayans Jr. famously had to exit the Zooey Deschanel-led comedy when his ABC series Happy Endings was unexpectedly renewed, prompting producers to introduce a new character — played by Lamorne Morris — rather than recast. Wayans Jr. eventually returned to New Girl in Season 3 and became a series regular in Season 4. Johnson remained on the show for its entire seven-season run. The two also reunited on the big screen in the 2014 comedy Let’s Be Cops.
Beyond Scary Movie, Wayans Jr. recently appeared in the Netflix films Players and Kinda Pregnant starring Amy Schumer. His Two Shakes Entertainment banner holds a producing deal at CBS Studios and most recently had Poppa’s House and Raid the Cage on the network. Johnson, meanwhile, currently headlines NBC’s Sunset P.I. and stars in Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed on Apple TV+; if the Cable Guy pilot goes to series, he is expected to be able to fulfill both commitments.
The original Cable Guy, directed by Stiller from a script by Lou Holtz Jr. and produced by Judd Apatow, grossed $103 million worldwide before becoming a significant cult title in the years since.
The pilot marks Sony TV’s return to Hulu, where the studio previously produced Shut Eye, Future Man, and Woke, and represents one of the studio’s first pilots in several years after pivoting toward streaming drama. The pilot model has been making a broader comeback lately, with Hulu and Max now deploying it regularly.