Two years ago, it was announced that the hit British parenting comedy series was coming to life in an American setting. Now, it is officially happening.
The ABC television network is reportedly signing a pilot order for the American adaptation of the sensational BBC comedy series about parenthood - "Motherland."
The show was supposedly for airing on Hulu with Liongate co-financing and distributing. However, an announcement last year confirmed that it migrated to ABC, a much broader platform for the series, Variety reported.
Lead role to be played by Ellie Kemper
Motherland is one of the UK's most loved contemporary comedies. It has aired on BBC since 2016 and is now in its third season. The story follows a group of moms, along with one dad, as they encounter "trials and traumas" of middle-class parenting and experience the "competitive side and unromantic take" of parenthood in an attempt to be in the trend of modern motherhood.
Julieanne Smolinski, the amazing woman behind "Grace and Frankie," is writing the American remake.
Motherland revolves around the character of Julia, who is said to be played by actress Ellie Kemper, according to Deadline.
Julia is a working mom who feels like nothing is working for her until she finally finds "her village," a set of new friends; Calvin, the role reportedly being given to actor Karan Soni, and Liz, who helped her realize that there can be victory in balancing work and parenting.
Based on real people
British critics are so insanely in love with the comedy series that they cannot help but praise it. They love it for its frankness and hysterical commentary on the "thankless nature of parenthood."
Motherland won best-scripted comedy at BAFTA last year with its knockout performances by its cast - Anna Maxwell Martin, Diane Morgan, Lucy Punch, Paul Ready, Philippa Dunne, and Tanya Moodie.
Johanna Thomas-Corr of the Evening Standard expressed that the script could have been taken straight out from the life of anyone with kids, especially the ultimate struggle of most mothers in losing their personhood and identity.
When Holly Walsh, one of the UK writers alongside Helen and Graham Linehan, and Sharon Horgan, was asked whether the characters were fresh from scratch or based on people she has met in real life, she admitted that many of them were based either on themselves or people they know.
As to the success of the American adaptation and how well the audience in the US will be able to relate, those are some things to look forward to.
ABC has yet to comment on the negotiations with actress Kemper and the status of the series that is causing so much excitement among American viewers.
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