Tracy Morgan is set to star in his first television series since the actor’s tragic 2014 car crash. In an untitled comedy for FX, Morgan will play a career criminal who has to reintegrate into society after 15 years in prison. In addition to his starring role, the Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock alum will develop the series which is co-written by Jordan Peele (Key & Peele) and John Carcieri (Eastbound & Down).
“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,” said FX exec Nick Grad in a statement (via Deadline).
In the show, Morgan’s skill-less character is forced to “navigate a modern world of political correctness, the Internet, and self-driving cars” according to FX. Deadline notes that while Morgan has a history with FX, including starring in a 2013 comedy pilot called Death Pact, the untitled show is a “a brand new project.”
Morgan made his return to Hollywood in September at the Emmys after a year of rehabbing from the car crash that left the actor in a coma. “[It’s] going to take more than 18 wheels,” said the actor tearily to the Emmys crowd according to The Hollywood Reporter. “It’s going to take more than that to stop me from making you all laugh. I’m going to do that until I die.” In October, he hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live and he just finished production on Fist Fight which he stars in alongside Ice Cube and Charlie Day. He’s also currently in the midst of a nationwide comeback comedy tour called Picking Up the Pieces.
Morgan, Peele, and Carcieri are executive producing the comedy with Eric Tannenbaum (The Odd Couple) and Joel Zadak. The cabler, which has greenlit the series’ pilot, hopes to begin production this summer.
