HBO Orders Pilots from McKay, Bigelow

The HBO Empire is expanding. The cable network giant has ordered two new dramas from creators with prestigious pedigrees: Succession from Adam McKay (The Big Short) and Mogadishu, Minnesota from Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker). While both dramas focus on the American family, each offers a dramatically different take on that classic TV trope. According to reports, Succession “follows the saga of a fictional, American global-media family that is not only rich and powerful but also powerfully dysfunctional.” The series appears to be loosely based on the family drama surrounding the estate of CBS and Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone. In addition to serving as executive producer, McKay will direct the pilot to Succession. The show’s other EP’s include writer/co-creator Jesse Williams (Peep Show) and Will Ferrell, with whom McKay created the Anchorman films. As for Mogadishu, Minnesota, the series is said to be “a family drama that grapples with what it means to be American among the Somalis of Minneapolis.” Like Succession, the storyline in Mogadishu, Minnesota couldn’t be any timelier, as it will focus on the subject of Jihadi recruitment in the U.S. Bigelow will serve as an executive producer on the project, along with Somali Canadian artist Keinan Abdi Warsame, otherwise known by his stage name K'naan. K'naan will also serve as screenwriter for Mogadishu, Minnesota and direct the pilot episode. Both Succession and Mogadishu, Minnesota mark the first pilots to be ordered by new president of programming Casey Bloys since being named to the role on May 23. Other dramas under development at HBO include Sharp Objects, starring Golden Globe winning actress Amy Adams; Us, created by Jason Katims (Friday Night Lights); and the long-delayed remake of Westworld. For more on other HBO programs, stay tuned to Entertainment Fuse!