Freeform Announces Slew Of Animation In Development From 20th Century FOX ; Orders “Praise Petey”

 

 

Freeform has ordered the half-hour animated comedy series “Praise Petey” (working title) from creator, writer and executive producer Anna Drezen  (head writer, “Saturday Night Live”) and executive producer Monica Padrick (“Central Park”), along with Bandera Entertainment’s Mike Judge, Greg Daniels and Dustin Davis, and ShadowMachine’s Alex Bulkley and Corey Campodonico. The series is produced by Disney Television Studios’ 20th Television Animation, with animation by ShadowMachine.

“Praise Petey” (working title) follows Petey, a New York City “it” girl who has it all until her life comes crashing down around her. As luck would have it, a mysterious gift from her father gives her a new lease on life: she’s going to “lean into” modernizing his small-town cult.

The series stars Annie Murphy (“Schitt’s Creek”) as Petey, once the girl who had everything, now she has to use her city smarts to revamp her father’s failing cult and be a better leader than he was, a much more laidback one — a nice one — a girl boss!

John Cho (“Cowboy Bebop”) voices Bandit, a potential love interest for Petey and a cult member since childhood whose mother was a high-ranking member.

Kiersey Clemons (“The Flash”) voices Eliza, a bartender at the local bar and reluctant BFF to Petey, working at her new cult.

Christine Baranski (“The Good Fight”) voices White, Petey’s mother. She’s a magazine editor, Manhattan society woman and a terrifying perfectionist who’s never eaten, tasted or seen ketchup.

Amy Hill (“Magnum P.I.”) voices Mae Mae, Bandit’s Southern mama oozing with Southern hospitality who happens to be the right-hand woman of a cult leader.

Stephen Root (“Barry”) voices Petey’s loving father, a charming, homespun, stone-cold cult leader with some pretty unique ideas about meditation, space, jumping up and down in a field, and how his bloodline is necessary for the salvation of mankind. He may or may not be dead.

“Praise Petey” (working title) will begin production in early 2022.

Freeform has also revealed to Deadline that two other animated series are in development that are already in a pre-production stage (probably for pilots) and that a number of other animated projects are in various stages of development on the back of strong gains for the network in airing marathons featuring The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers, and Family Guy. In Australia, new seasons of Family Guy and American Dad are moving from 7mate to 7flix sometime in 2022.

Other projects on tap for Freeform coming from 20th Animation include:

SupaShawty Girls, Funkamatic BangBang comes from newcomer writers and executive producers Adamma and Adanne Ebo, and exec producers Tiffany Haddish and Melanie Clark.

The series follows Yeze and Tule when a freak laboratory accident turns the twin college students into dopeass superheroes, and they must learn to manage their brand new super-powered lives with the growing pains of adulthood.  Unfortunately for humanity, they’d actually rather kick it than kick butt & save the world.

Wallflower comes from writers and executive producers Ben 10 writer Julia Edelman, Solar Opposites co-exec producer Danielle Uhlarik, and New Yorker cartoonist Olivia de Recat.

The series follows Ren, a quick-witted introvert who has the power to communicate with her houseplants. With the misguided help of her charming, but dysfunctional ensemble of greenery, Ren clumsily navigates the many anxieties of being in your twenties.

Freeform boss earlier in the year made it a mission to make sure more adult animation comes to Freeform, and she ain’t lying. It looks as though 2022 could be a turnaround year for the network that has to share a dial with the rotten folks over at CBN (aka Christian Broadcasting Network).

Update 12/24: Deadline is reporting that Anna Drezen is departing SNL to focus on this new series.

Update 8/15: Adamma and Adanne Ebo have signed an overall deal with 20th Century.