Ellie Kemper, best known for her iconic role as Erin Hannon on USA’s The Office, is set to return to television in a new ABC comedy series called Drop Off, based on the British comedy Motherland. Kemper will also serve as an executive producer on the series.
Lionsgate, which has the rights to sell the show worldwide, put it up on Hulu at first, but last year it moved to ABC, which is a much bigger platform.
Kemper has been busy recently with roles on The Great American Baking Show and a new Netflix romance comedy called Happiness for Beginners. Since the conclusion of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, she has also participated in Disney +’s widely panned Home Alone sequel.
The official logline for the upcoming comedy series starring Ellie Kemper as Julia reads, “Julia is a working mother struggling to balance her personal and professional life, prompting her to seek out a support system. She meets Calvin and Liz, who become her new friends and help her navigate the challenges of parenthood. This relatable comedy is perfect for anyone who has dropped their children off at school and felt a sense of relief, only to realize it’s Sunday.”
The upcoming comedy series has an impressive team behind it, with Michael Showalter, known for his work on Search Party, directing the show. Grace and Frankie’s Julieanne Smolinski will be the writer, collaborating with Motherland creators Sharon Horgan and Clelia Mountford. Bridesmaids director Paul Feig produces the show.
Ellie Kemper serves as an executive producer alongside Stacy Greenberg, Kira Carstensen, Sharon Horgan, and Clelia Mountford for Merman Television. Paul Feig and Dan Magnante are executives producing through Feigco Entertainment, while Holly Walsh and Helen Serafinowicz are also attached as executive producers. Michael Showalter is directing the series and serving as an executive producer. Lionsgate and ABC Signature are the studios bringing this exciting production to life.
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Julieanne Smolinski, known for her work on the ABC series Home Economics, will write and executive produce the show. Showalter’s previous credits include directing and producing Hulu’s The Dropout and producing and directing Apple TV+’s I Love That For You and The Shrink Next Door. He also co-created the HBO Search Party and the Wet Hot American Summer series.
The original series follows a trio of misfit parents in a middle-class London suburb. Anna Maxwell Martin (A Spy Among Friends) plays the disorganized Julia, Diane Morgan (Cunk on Earth) portrays the single mother Liz, and Paul Ready as the stay-at-home dad Kevin Brady.
Later seasons see the addition of Tanya Moodie’s crazy working mom Meg, fighting against the mean girls including Lucy Punch’s Amanda, while dealing with school politics.
First airing as a comedy pilot on BBC 2 in 2016, Motherland shares a similar origin story to its American counterpart. The show aired its first full season in 2017, followed by a second season in 2019, a third season in 2021, and a pair of Christmas specials. Created by Sharon Horgan, Holly Walsh, Graham Linehan, and Helen Serafinowicz and produced by Horgan’s Merman, the show has been a critical success in Britain, praised for its courageous and humorous take on the trials of parenthood.
Its stellar cast, including Anna Maxwell Martin, Diane Morgan, and Lucy Punch, has garnered particular acclaim. The series won the BAFTA award for best-scripted comedy in 2022, solidifying its place as a fan favorite.
Kemper has long been a fan-favorite in the comedy world, with her infectious energy and signature quirky humor captivating audiences on small and big screens. Her portrayal of Erin on The Office US was praised for its sincerity and heart, and it seems likely that her new role will offer more of the same.
Although no release date has been announced yet, anticipation is already high for the show’s debut.
