Bill Hader Teams Up with 'Barry' Writer for New HBO Comedy

Bill Hader ComedyPhoto byMaciej DrążkiewiczonUnsplash

Bill Hader will return to HBO after his successful stint running and starring in Barry. He and his longtime collaborator Duffy Boudreau are developing a new comedy pilot for the network. The pair will serve as co-writers and co-executive producers on the show, with no word yet on whether Hader has plans to act in front of the camera or to work as the director.

Bill Hader's Best Friend from Tulsa

Bill Hader's partnership with Duffy Boudreau goes back much further than the beginning of Barry, Hader's previous HBO series. They became friends when they were 18, still living in Tulsa, Oklahoma, before Hader started heading west to join show business. They kept in touch as Hader made a name for himself in the industry, and they connected professionally to write some episodes of IFC's Documentary Now! before collaborating more fully in Barry's writing room.

They have been working on a few ideas since Barry's series finale last year. "We wrote a movie that I’d like to make at some point, which is kind of like what everybody usually does," Hader told Deadline. "And then I have two other ideas. One is kind of hard to describe, and then the other one is Barry-like in tone, but instead of a crime thing, it’s like a horror thing." We don't know yet which, if any, of these concepts birthed their new pilot.

What to Expect

Variety reports that this potential new series centers around "a woman in a small town [who] has a big secret revealed." We do not have any additional information yet, as Hader and Boudreau are hard at work on the script. Casting, of course, is a long way off, but perhaps Barry fans will see some cameos from familiar faces like Sarah Goldberg, Anthony Carrigan, or Henry Winkler. The writing duo is less likely to craft a role for Hader. In the past, he has expressed discomfort with directing himself. Working on Barry led to him dividing his attention among multiple directing tasks while making specific acting choices, often leaving him feeling distracted. If he chooses to continue directing, he may opt against giving himself a starring role in the new show.

Bill Hader as a Director

But it is a near certainty that this project marks the next opportunity to see a "Directed by Bill Hader" credit. After getting his start as a cast member on NBC's Saturday Night Live, Hader first became famous for his precise impressions, known to melt other comedians into puddles of laughter. His acting ability and range developed, leading him away from sketch comedy and into more serious film roles. Nevertheless, a lifelong student of cinema, Hader harbored the hope that he would someday be given the chance to direct. With Barry, he finally managed to do everything. HBO allowed him to produce, write, star, and - most crucially - direct. Emmy awards and nominations soon followed.

Final Thoughts

Barry earned 55 Emmy nominations throughout its four-season run, several being for Bill Hader in his roles as either actor or director. Notably, he was the only director for the show's last eight-episode season, demonstrating a cohesive style and a growing confidence in his skill behind the camera. If he directs, this new project with Boudreau will be a fascinating watch.

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Originally written by Issel Guigou