Larry Wilmore Inks Overall Deal With ABC Studios
Larry Wilmore has lined up a post-Nightly Show TV gig, signing a multi-year overall deal with ABC Studios. Wilmore was serving as executive producer/showrunner on ABC Studios’ then-newly picked-up ABC comedy series Black-ish when he landed the Comedy Central late-night show. Wilmore, who had joined Kenya Barris’ Black-ish at the pilot stage, stayed on for the first 13 episodes before departing for The Nightly Show, which he hosted for 20 months, until the show’s cancellation in August.
Under his ABC Studios deal, Wilmore will develop his own series and supervise other creators. There are no current plans for him to be involved in Black-ish, though that conceivably could change if Barris and Vijal Patel’s new high-profile comedy project starring Felicity Huffman and Courtney B. Vance goes to series.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Larry Wilmore back to ABC Studios,” said ABC Studios president Patrick Moran. “We worked closely with Larry while we were developing Black-ish and are looking forward to what’s coming next from this incredibly talented writer/producer.”
Wilmore recently co-created with star Issa Rae HBO’s well-received new comedy series Insecure, which has been renewed for a second season. He previously created The Bernie Mac Show. Wilmore’s first series as a creator was 1999’s The PJs, which he co-created with Eddie Murphy, Steve Tompkins and Matt Groening for ABC Studios following a stint as a writer-producer on the ABC comedy Sister, Sister.
“I’m excited beyond words to be back at ABC and look forward to this creative partnership,” Wilmore said. “Disney took a chance on me as a young writer years ago, and so I’m thrilled to return to the Mouse House. I hope my room still looks the same.”
Wilmore is repped by UTA, 3 Arts and attorney Tom Hoberman.
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