BBC has given us one of the best female-led sitcoms in recent years with Motherland, and its American remake is on the way. ABC ordered a pilot based on the beloved British series, with Ellie Kemper in the lead role.
The series is being developed under the working title Drop-Off, and it centers on a working mother Julia (Kemper), who’s trying to balance work and parenting with the help of her new friends Calvin and Liz. In addition to Kemper, the pilot will also star Karan Soni as Calvin.
ABC describes Drop-Off as “a comedy for anybody who’s dropped their kids at school, breathed a sigh of relief … then realized it’s Sunday.” Julieanne Smolinski wrote the pilot, while Michael Showalter (The Big Sick) will come on board as a director.
Drop-Off draws inspiration from a British television sitcom, which won a BAFTA TV Award for the best scripted comedy. It explored the trials and traumas of a group of middle-class mothers in London and starred Anna Maxwell Martin, Lucy Punch, Diane Morgan, Paul Ready, Philippa Dunne, and Tanya Moodie.
Drop-Off would mark the first lead TV role for Kemper since Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt ended its run in 2020, after bringing her two Emmy nominations for her performance.
