US broadcaster ABC has ordered a put pilot for Chris O’Dowd’s critically acclaimed rural comedy ‘Moone Boy’.
O’Dowd is not expected to have an on-screen role in the pilot, which is expected to be a single-camera adaptation in the style of sitcoms ‘The Office’ and ’30 Rock’, but will write the script and executive produce.
O'Dowd created, writes (along with Nick Vincent Murphy) and stars in the original version of the International Emmy-winning sitcom, which follows the surreal adventures of young Martin Moone and his imaginary friend Sean Murphy in the small Irish town of Boyle. ‘Moone Boy’ is a nostalgic look at Ireland of the eighties and nineties. The production inspired such confidence in broadcasters Sky that a second season was commissioned before the first had aired and IFTN also reported earlier this year that the series is to culminate in a feature film.
The show also stars David Rawle, Deirdre O’Kane and Peter McDonald. It is directed by Declan Lowney and Ian Fitzgibbon, with O’Dowd himself directing the entire third season which started shooting in in July of this year.
Paul Donovan of Deadpan Pictures (the new name for his wing of Grand Pictures) is the Irish producer along with Baby Cow Productions, Hot Cod Productions and Sprout Pictures in the UK.
Donovan said:Fantastic to hear that Moone Boy is being remade Stateside. It's a really charming and funny show and we wish it well as it travels on from Boyle! It was a pleasure to be involved in the original series.
