For anybody skewing extra in the direction of emotionally charged horror dramas and never fantastical science fiction adventures, actor Paul Wesley is probably going finest recognized for his years of portraying the fanged Stefan Salvatore throughout all eight seasons of The Vampire Diaries. (The sci-fi facet maybe celebrates him extra as Star Trek: Unusual New Worlds’ tackle James T. Kirk.) Now, he’s serving to carry a brand new vampire-led challenge to Fox, albeit one which sounds in contrast to some other upcoming horror TV present.
The idea for the at the moment untitled (and unable to cross working water) supernatural-tinged comedy facilities on a vampire trying to achieve his dream of turning into an actor, in response to Deadline. Whereas it’s undoubtedly a plus that he’s just about eternally 25 years outdated, his concerted efforts usually are not free from obstacles.
In attempting to get his performing profession off the bottom — free grave-dirt might be concerned — the bloodsucking thespian-in-training additionally has to assist run the household enterprise. Which is less complicated to do when one doesn’t have murder-happy, smothering mother and father who’re additionally vampires.
Paul Wesley Is not Even What Excites Me The Most
For the time being, Paul Wesley is barely lined up as an government producer, and isn’t being reported as having any form of performing position simply but. That may clearly change if and when an element will get written that calls his identify, and I am already hoping for a Grade-A cameo. However for now, he is solely working behind the scenes.
Nonetheless, that is not a motive to worry, since the perfect factor about this new challenge is that it was written by Victor Fresco, who additionally gave the world among the finest horror-comedy TV reveals of all time: Santa Clarita Food regimen. Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant, together with youthful co-stars Liv Hewson and Skyler Gisondo, handled all method of horrifyingly hilarious zombie-related, body-munching shenanigans throughout the Netflix sequence’ three-season run.
The one unhealthy factor in regards to the present is that it was canceled by the streaming service after organising a very bonkers cliffhanger with its Season 3 finale. It is a cancellation that also breaks followers’ hearts, so it is superior to know that Fresco will carry his patentedly absurd humorousness to a different form of undead monster.
To make certain, Fresco additionally created a bunch of different reveals, with arguably the 2 different crowning achievements being Andy Richter Controls the Universe and Higher Off Ted. However let’s not neglect he additionally created Sean Saves the World, Life on a Stick and The Bother with Regular, whereas additionally writing for My Title is Earl, Mad About You, ALF, Dinosaurs and extra.
Although Victor Fresco served as the author, the precise pitch got here from an thought crafted by Paul Wesley, the pilot director Liz Friedlander, and Aaron Kaplan of Kapital Leisure. (All the above are EPs on the challenge.) Friedlander helmed a trio of Vampire Diaries episodes earlier than reteaming with Wesley on Kapital’s streaming sequence Inform Me a Story, and Kaplan additionally EP’d on Santa Clarita Food regimen, including all types of artistic connective tissue.
Let’s keep in mind that this isn’t the primary time a Vampire Diaries vet looped again round to that exact style nook for a brand new sequence. Wesley’s love-triangle rival Ian Somerhalder served because the lead (and an EP) on Netflix’s V Wars, an adaptation of the anthology sequence of vampire-centric brief tales. That sequence solely lasted a single season earlier than its cancellation, so right here’s hoping this untitled sequence has much better luck with each viewers and execs.
The brand new comedy landed at Fox after the creatives fielded presents from different platforms, and is at the moment nonetheless in improvement mode. So until issues come collectively extraordinarily shortly, it will seemingly make its method to audiences typically after the 2025 TV schedule concludes.