Janelle James and David Caspe are reuniting for a new comedy series at Hulu. The two are developing Rock City, a half-hour comedy set in the Virgin Islands, with Universal Television producing.
The series follows a woman who returns to her hometown in the Virgin Islands after inheriting a local tourist trap from her estranged father, only to discover she has been left much more than a simple beachfront bar and grill. James and Caspe will write and executive produce. It is currently too early in development to determine whether James will also star.
The project marks a reunion for the pair, who previously collaborated on Showtime’s Black Monday, which Caspe co-created and on which James served as both a writer and actor. Caspe is best known for creating the cult ABC comedy Happy Endings and more recently Peacock’s Mr. Throwback, starring Stephen Curry and Adam Pally. James is currently in her fifth season on ABC’s Abbott Elementary, where she plays principal Ava Coleman, a role that has earned her four consecutive Emmy nominations, a Critics Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, and nominations at the Golden Globes, Independent Spirit Awards and Gotham Awards. On the film side, she received an NAACP Image Award nomination for her work in One of Them Days.
As a writer, James has credits on History of the World Part II, Central Park and The Rundown with Robin Thede in addition to Black Monday. She is also a stand-up comedian who has toured with Chris Rock, Amy Schumer and David Cross.
Rock City is in development at Hulu.