Issa Rae is getting her own series on HBO. Excuse us while we happy-dance.
Earlier this year, HBO announced a pilot order for love-of-our-lives Issa Rae’s comedy show Insecure. We couldn’t help but have a fangirl freakout — and now, Deadline reports the network has officially announced a series pickup. All of the yes!
According to Deadline, news of the pickup comes after the series was “well-received internally” at HBO; and we couldn’t be more excited to see Rae make the move from our computer screens to the TV. Co-created with Larry Wilmore, Insecure follows BFFs Issa (played by Rae) and Molly (played by Yvonne Orji) as they navigate “the awkward experiences and racy tribulations of a modern day African-American woman.” The show is significant for a plethora of reasons — most notably, the fact that it’s a comedy show starring two WOC.
For those unfamiliar, Rae is definitive proof that owning who you are and working hard will get you far. She’s a jill of all trades — writer, actress, author, director, producer, and the web series wizard behind The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl — and the series pickup is more than well-deserved. Basically, Rae is magic; and we’ve loved her since forever.
“My advice to young women who feel discouraged is to either create what you want to see or to seek out and support what you find on the Internet,” she told HelloGiggles in an interview last February. “I would never be on the path I am today had people not done the latter. The encouragement lies in knowing that you’re not the only one who feels the way you feel and so many people are working outside of the system to create some great stuff.”
Insecure will be directed by Melina Matsoukas (who won a Grammy for Rihanna’s “We Found Love,” just FYI), with Prentice Penny (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) serving as showrunner. Penny will also serve as executive producer alongside Rae, Michael Rotenberg, Dave Becky, and Jonathan Berry. Wilmore will act as the show’s consultant.
There’s no word yet on a premiere date, but you better believe Insecure is going to be an absolute must-watch. With Rae at the reigns, it’s guaranteed to be gold — and we can’t wait to see it.
(Image via Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com.)
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