TV
‘Very Young Frankenstein’ Pilot Ordered by FX with Zach Galifianakis, Kumail Nanjiani, Cary Elwes
FX has official given a pilot order for “Very Young Frankenstein,” a comedy series based on Mel Brooks‘ 1973 horror parody Young Frankenstein.
The cast features Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover), Dolly Wells (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies), Spencer House (“Space Force”), Nikki Crawford (“Cruel Intentions”), Kumail Nanjiani (Eternals), and Cary Elwes (Saw) as the President of the United States.
Brooks is executive producing alongside a trio of key creatives from FX’s “What We Do in the Shadows:” Stefani Robinson, who will serve as writer and showrunner; Taika Waititi, who will direct the pilot; and Garrett Basch.
Other executive producers include Brooks’ producing partner Kevin Salter (“History of the World, Part II”) and original Young Frankenstein producer Michael Gruskoff.
20th Television is the studio behind the project, which will stream on Hulu should it be picked up.
Plot details are under wraps. In the original film, written by Brooks and star Gene Wilder, an American grandson of the infamous scientist, struggling to prove that his grandfather was not as insane as people believe, discovers the process that reanimates a dead body.
Young Frankenstein is the latest Brooks classic to be revisited in the 2020s. Hulu gave 1981’s History of the World, Part I a sketch comedy sequel series with “History of the World, Part II” in 2023, and a sequel to 1987’s Spaceballs is in the works at Amazon MGM Studios.
Zach Galifianakis in ‘The Hangover’
As the inaugural season of Apple TV+’s stellar new series “Widow’s Bay” barrels toward its finale in two weeks, the latest episode gives Kate O’Flynn the spotlight as her character revisits her trauma with the Boogeyman.
“Your Baggage“, directed by Andrew DeYoung (Friendship), sees O’Flynn’s scene-stealing Patricia once again renew her fight with the Michael Myers-like stalker that slaughtered her peers during her adolescence. Thrillingly, it makes for one extended chase sequence that sees Patricia trying to warn others, while evading the undead killer.
In short, this episode’s incredible riff on Halloween and the slasher subgenre transformed Patricia into a fierce Final Girl.
“Well, that felt like a bucket list that I didn’t know was on my bucket list until I did it, but when I did it, I just lapped up every minute,” O’Flynn tells Bloody Disgusting of her triumphant turn this episode. “It felt fantastic for her to get that moment where she is becoming a badass. That was amazing.”
The actress turned to a few notable references for her performance. “Horror-wise, I go back to my youth, which was referenced in some of the episodes: Wicker Man, Carrie, and Rosemary’s Baby, that sort of thing is my kind of vibe.”
O’Flynn also notes how the series’ unique tone allows for so much creative freedom to make bold swings. “There’s something very freeing about it. Every moment is up for grabs, so it’s like we don’t have to totally land in one direction or another. It keeps it alive.“
Patricia is the eccentric assistant to Matthew Rhys‘ Mayor Tom Loftis, who’s at the forefront of trying to solve the island’s pesky curse predicament. Rhys felt the same about “Widow’s Bay” and its rare ability to make you laugh and scream in equal measure, stemming from series creator Katie Dippold.
“The mandate was, ‘It’s a real world with real people. You play for real.’ There’s no playing for comedy or horror,” Rhys echoes O’Flynn’s sentiments on how freeing the series’ tone has been.
New episodes will release every Wednesday through June 17 only on Apple TV+.
Kate O’Flynn in “Widow’s Bay,” now streaming on Apple TV.
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