The list of women-driven projects on HBO Max’s slate keeps getting longer. WarnerMedia’s upcoming streaming platform has revealed that it has half-hour comedies from Mindy Kaling, Elizabeth Banks, and Issa Rae on the way.
“Elizabeth Banks, Issa Rae and Mindy Kaling are three of the most gifted women in our industry, and are now bringing their impressive, original projects to HBO Max,” confirmed head of original content Sarah Aubrey, per Deadline.
“College Girls” (working title), from Kaling, received a straight-to-series order. The 13-episode single-camera comedy sees three 18-year-old roommates, described as “equal parts lovable and infuriating,” navigating their freshman year at Evermore College in Vermont.
Kaling will write, showrun, and executive produce. The series order hails from Kaling’s exclusive overall deal with Warner Bros. Television Group.
This has been a busy year for Kaling: she wrote and starred in Nisha Ganatra’s “Late Night,” co-created Hulu dramedy “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” and cast the lead for her semi-autobiographical coming-of-age Netflix project.
“DC Super Hero High,” exec produced by Banks, is in development. The comedy centers on a group of students at a boarding school for gifted youth. “These teens are just trying to navigate the pressures of high school,” the official synopsis teases, “but none of them realize that someday they will become legendary DC Super Heroes.”
Banks’ Brownstone Productions is producing with Warner Horizon Scripted Television.
Banks directed, produced, and co-stars in “Charlie’s Angels,” out November 15. She portrays Bosley, and Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska are the Angels. Aidy Bryant-starrer “Shrill” is among Banks’ other producing credits. She made her feature directorial debut with box office smash “Pitch Perfect 2.”
HBO Max is also developing “Rap Sh*t” (working title). Exec produced by Rae, the comedy is about a female rap group trying to break into the music industry. Rae is set to pen the pilot.
Rae co-created and toplines HBO’s “Insecure.” She also exec produces the network’s sketch series “A Black Lady Sketch Show.” Other projects on Rae’s slate include “The Dolls” and “The Photograph.” Based on a true story, the former is a limited HBO series that depicts Christmas Eve riots that erupted over Cabbage Patch dolls. The latter, from Stella Meghie (“The Weekend”), is a romantic drama featuring intertwining love stories hitting theaters Valentine’s Day.
HBO Max also announced “Jane the Virgin’s” Gina Rodriquez would be starring in an original movie for the streamer. “Bobbie Sue” is the story of “a headstrong young lawyer who lands a career-making case with an upper crust law firm, only to realize she’s been hired for optics and not her expertise.” No word on a writer or director just yet.
