Showtime Orders ‘The Wood’ Pilot for New Series Based on 1999 Film

The Wood (Credit: Paramount Pictures)

The Wood is getting remade into a pilot for a new Showtime comedy series based on the 1999 film directed and co-written by Rick Famuyiwa.

The premium cable network announced the project will follow the lives and relationships of three young Black men born and raised in Inglewood, Calif., much like the film, Collider reported Tuesday.

Related Story: ‘The Chi’ Gets Renewed for Fifth Season on Showtime

Famuyiwa will direct the pilot and executive produce, while The Chi’s Justin Hillian will write and co-executive produce. Other executive producers include David Gale and Van Toffler. The pilot comes from Showtime sister company Paramount Television Studios.

Here’s the official synopsis: “The Wood is an honest look at friendship and dating from the perspective of three you Black males born and raised in the gentrifying L.A. suburb of Inglewood, fondly referred to by locals as the City Of Champions. The trio’s struggles to balance fatherhood, ambition and loyalty force them to question of they are growing apart … or closer together. With a knowing nod back to the characters of the 1999 film on which it is based, this romantic comedy showcases the humor and heart of young Black men and women trying to navigate life, love and likes on the ‘Gram.”

The 1999 coming-of-age film starred Omar Epps, Taye Diggs and Richard T. Jones as three young men who recount their childhood days living in Inglewood before Roland’s (played by Diggs) wedding. When Roland starts to get cold feet and becomes intoxicated several hours before his wedding, Mike (Epps) and Slim (Jones) try to sober him up while retelling stories from their junior high years.

The film also starred Sanaa Lathan, Malinda Williams, Tamala Jones, De’Aundre Bonds., and LisaRaye McCoy. Todd Boyd co-wrote the script.

The Wood was Nigerian-American director and screenwriter Rick Famuyiwa’s first feature and was inspired by some of his experiences growing up in Inglewood.

The film grossed just over $25 million at the box office on a production budget of $6 million.

Showtime has not released details on casting or whether the pilot will bring back any of the original characters.


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About Jacquelinne Mejia

Jacquelinne Mejia is a writer and social media producer in Los Angeles. She can be reached on Twitter @JackieMejia.