Louis C.K. Taking ‘Extended Hiatus’ From ‘Louie’
Louis C.K. is taking an “extended hiatus” from his Emmy-nominated series Louie in order to work on other projects, FX CEO John Landgraf said at the Television Critics Association’s press tour Friday. “After writing, directing, starring in and mostly editing 61 episodes of television, [C.K.]’s anxious to take a break from the show and work on other things,” the FX head said (via The Hollywood Reporter). Louie previously took a two-year break between its third season in 2012 and its fourth season in 2014.
Landgraf added it’s unclear when, and if, C.K. would return to the critically acclaimed series, which wrapped up its eight-episode fifth season in late May. “It’s really going to be his choice. He could decide to take as long as a six-month hiatus… he could decide to take a two-year hiatus and we could be where HBO is with Larry David, announcing periodically that subsequent seasons will air,” Landgraf said, referring to Curb Your Enthusiasm‘s open door deal with HBO that allows David to return to the series whenever he’s creatively motivated to create a new season.
Even with no Louie in sight, FX will continue working with C.K. on a pair of new series the comedian is co-writing and producing: Baskets, a comedy about an aspiring clown played by Zach Galifianakis, and Better Things, which stars Emmy-nominated Louie regular Pamela Adlon as a single mother/actress raising three daughters. On the latter, C.K. will direct and co-write the pilot with Adlon. Both series will premiere on FX in 2016.
Landgraf also hinted at a third C.K.-produced series that’s currently in development; it’s unclear if this project was the reason the comedian shadowed New York City mayor Bill de Blasio earlier in the week. On top of all that, C.K. will also revealed he would direct, write and star in I’m a Cop, his first film directorial effort in 14 years.