Author, comedy writer, and producer Emily V. Gordon and actor, comedian, and writer Kumail Nanjiani made their Oscar-nominated screenwriting debut last year with “The Big Sick.” The film is based on the bizarre but heartwarming circumstances surrounding the couple’s relationship after they first met. Now, the husband and wife screenwriting duo are back with a new half-hour anthology series “Little America” that has been picked up by Apple, according to THR.
The series is based on a series of true stories published in Epic Magazine. The magazine describes the synopsis for the “Little America” as follows:
Everyone here came from somewhere else. Even Native Americans crossed the Bering Strait at some point. This is the basic American idea — an identity open to all — but it can be easy to forget from inside. And that’s when politics can turn ugly, as it has recently, with our political narrative becoming a story of blame and fear. “Little America” is meant to counter that narrative with a fuller portrait of our most recent arrivals. Here we present just a few stories. You’ll meet a woman who kissed a car for 50 hours. A man who escaped communism via zip-line. A Hindu Mayor of a small Kansas town. These stories are a small, collective portrait of America’s immigrants. And thereby a portrait of America itself.
As you might imagine, the timing of this announcement couldn’t be more perfect. The headlines for the last few days have been dominated by talk of immigration, with many Hollywood types speaking out against the US government’s policies. A series like “Little America” doesn’t just have amazing talent behind the scenes, but it’s also a timely series that should attract plenty of eyeballs.
Apple has ordered 8 episodes of the series. “Little America” joins the ranks of a dozen new scripted series ordered by Apple in the last year, as the company begins its push to take on streaming companies. Apple has signed incredible talent recently, including Damien Chazelle, Kristen Wiig, Reese Witherspoon, Steven Spielberg, and Jennifer Aniston. Picking up this series from Gordon and Nanjiani is another example of Apple spending big to compete.
Emmy nominee Lee Eisenberg (“The Office,” “SMILF“) will serve as showrunner, executive producer, and co-write along with Gordon and Nanjiani. Alan Yang (Emmy winner for “Master of None“) will executive produce for Universal Television. A release date is not known at this time, but it is unlikely that audiences will be able to see “Little America” this year.