Tracy Morgan to Make Sitcom Return in Jordan Peele-Penned Series
After Tracy Morgan triumphantly returned to television in October with a Saturday Night Live hosting gig, the comic will soon be back on TV on a more regular basis after Morgan signed on for a new FX sitcom from Key & Peele‘s Jordan Peele and Eastbound & Down writer John Carcieri. FX already gave the pilot the green light, with production on the still-untitled series set to begin this summer, Deadline reports. Both Morgan and Peele confirmed the project on Twitter.
The sitcom centers on a career criminal (played by Morgan) who is forced to reintegrate himself to life on the outside after a 15-year bid in prison.”Now a man whose only expertise is making grilled cheese with an iron must navigate a modern world of political correctness, internet and self-driving cars,” FX said in their description of the series.
“What an unbeatable combination – Tracy Morgan and Jordan Peele – two exceptional comics joining forces with a great team of writers and producers to create and produce this pilot for FX Networks,” FX original programming president Nick Grad said in a statement. “We’ve been committed to Tracy from the start and are thrilled that Jordan, John and [producers Eric Tannenbaum and Joel Zadak] are joining him in developing this new project.”
Bet! This one is gonna be so much fun! https://t.co/ek6JOaCk5d
— Jordan Peele (@JordanPeele) January 16, 2016
At the time of the 2014 car accident that left Morgan in a coma and took the life of his friend James “Jimmy Mack” McNair, following the end of 30 Rock, Morgan was in talks with FX to work a new FX series from the creators of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia where he’d play a pot dealer-turned-war hero. During Morgan’s recovery from his accident-related injuries, FX promised “his show will be waiting for him,” The Hollywood Reporter writes. However, the Peele pilot will take the place of that previous Morgan-led series.
Filming on the new series will likely take place following the conclusion of the Picking Up the Pieces tour, Morgan’s comeback comedy trek, which kicks off February 5th in Hammonds, Indiana and runs through May.