That was fast.
Less than 24 hours after ABC announced a pilot order to an untitled mayor comedy pilot exec produced by Hamilton Tony winner Daveed Diggs, the project has cast its young lead. Search Party's Brandon Micheal Hall is set to topline the single-camera comedy, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
From ABC Studios, the show explores what happens when an outspoken, idealistic rapper runs for office as a publicity stunt. When he actually gets elected, he surprises everyone (including himself) when he has a natural knack for the job and slowly transforms city hall.
Hall will star as Courtney Rose, a talented but struggling hip-hop artist who has been toiling away in obscurity for years. He performs at small, grassroots shows around town, but despite his best efforts, he can't seem to get any attention from radio stations and record labels. Yet he remains a quintessential optimist. When he's out and about in the neighborhood, everyone seems to come up and say hello.
Jeremy Bronson (Speechless) penned the script and will exec produce alongside Diggs, Jamie Tarses, Scott Stuber and James Griffiths (Black-ish), with the latter set to direct the pilot.
Hall is fresh off a series-regular role on TBS' critically praised comedy Search Party and has appeared in Broad City, Unforgettable and CBS drama pilot LFE. The Juilliard-trained actor-singer is repped by Paradigm.
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