Cult British comedy series Pulling is heading to NBC. The network is developing an U.S. version of the 2006 BBC Three series, with the original series’ creators Sharon Horgan who also starred, and Dennis Kelly executive producing. The project hails from Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment, Horgan’s Merman and 20th TV.
Written by the Bob’s Burgers writing duo of Wendy & Lizzie Molyneux, the single-camera Pulling is described as a contemporary re-conception of the beloved format. Donna breaks off her engagement to comfortable human-sweatsock Karl and moves in with her libertine sister Karen and sweet friend Louise. The show centers around the women’s adventures in the often-horrifying modern dating scene and their search for professional fulfillment.
The Molyneux, who are under an overall deal at 20th TV, executive produce alongside Merman’s Horgan and Clelia Mountford as well as Kelly, Kaplan and Dana Honor, reuniting with 20th TV where she was a senior comedy development executive. The original series ran on BBC Three for two seasons. (you can watch a Best Of reel below)
NBC
This is the third stab at developing an U.S. version of Pulling, all with Kaplan, Horgan and Kelly. The previous two, with different writers, went to pilot at ABC in 2009 and 2013. Horgan and Kelly served as executive producers on both while Kaplan sold the format to ABC for the first adaptation as an agent at WMA and executive produced the second incarnation through his Kapital Entertainment.
Horgan has been very busy, creating/co-creating and starring in some half-dozen series over the past decade. She currently has two series: Catastrophe on Amazon/Channel 4, which she co-created and stars in; and HBO’s Divorce, starring Sarah Jessica Parker, which she created. Horgan, who executive produces both shows through her Merman banner, was nominated for an Emmy for co-writing the pilot episode of Catastrophe with Rob Delaney.
Horgan and Kaplan, whose production companies Merman and Kapital Entertainment have a joint venture, are frequent creative partners who have collaborated on five pilots to date — Pulling, Bad Mom and Bad Management at ABC; Dead Boss at Fox; and Divorce at HBO, which went to series. This season, they also have comedy Bad Sugar, based on the UK comedy co-created by and starring Horgan, set up at Fox.
The Molyneux sisters are repped by WME and Kaplan/Perrone. (No relation to Aaron Kaplan of Kapital Entertainment). Horgan is repped by WME.