FX wants to walk this way, with the basic cabler officially giving out a pilot order to the comedy “Very Young Frankenstein.”
The project was originally reported to be in the works back in June. The pilot will star Zach Galifianakis (“The Hangover,” FX’s “Baskets”), Dolly Wells (“Doll & Em,” “Inside Man”), and Spencer House (“Tell Me Lies,” “The Society”) as well as Nikki Crawford (Broadway’s “Fat Ham,” “Cruel Intentions”) and Kumail Nanjiani (“Silicon Valley,” “The Big Sick’). As previously reported, Cary Elwes (“Robin Hood: Men in Tights,” “The Princess Bride”) will also star.
Exact plot details are being kept under wraps, aside from the fact that the pilot is inspired by the Mel Brooks-Gene Wilder film “Young Frankenstein.” Character details are likewise under wraps, but sources say that Galifianakis will play Dr. Frankenstein. It was also previously reported that Elwes would play the President of the United States. Should the show get picked up to series, it would air on Hulu.
“Very Young Frankenstein” hails from writer Stefani Robinson, who also executive produces along with Taika Waititi and Garrett Basch. All three are alums of the hit FX comedy series “What We Do in the Shadows.” Waititi will also direct the pilot. Brooks, who co-wrote and directed the film, will executive produce, as will Kevin Salter and Michael Gruskoff. Salter is Brooks’ producing partner, while Gruskoff produced the original film. 20th Television is the studio.
Galifianakis is repped by UTA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, and Yorn, Levine, Barnes. Nanjiani is repped by Mosaic, UTA, and Origin PR. Crawford is repped by Artists & Representatives and The Zachary Co. House is repped by Gersh. Wells is repped by UTA in the U.S., Independent in the U.K., and manager Heather Nunn. Elwes is repped by IAG, Link Entertainment, attorney Lev Ginsburg and Hamilton Hodell in the U.K.
“Young Frankenstein” premiered in 1974 to love from both critics and audiences. It is widely cited as one of the funniest American films ever made. Wilder starred as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (or Fronk-en-steen), the grandson of Victor Frankenstein. When he inherits his grandfather’s estate in Transylvania, Frederick finds himself drawn to continuing his predecessor’s work in reanimating the dead.
The cast also included Cloris Leachman, Marty Feldman, Teri Garr, Madeline Kahn, Peter Boyle, and Kenneth Mars. Gene Hackman also makes a brief appearance in the film as a blind man who encounters Frankenstein’s monster.
