Harsh Vardhan
Clouds above Nick Paley’s ‘Phony’ have finally been cleared! The Cinemaholic has discovered that the comedy series, which was originally announced in 2022, is now back in the works at Hulu. The project’s filming will start in December in Vancouver, British Columbia. Connie Britton (‘Nashville’ and ‘Friday Night Lights’) headlines the cast, which also includes Sam Nivola (‘The Perfect Couple‘ and ‘Maestro‘).
The show is a coming-of-age mystery that blends the nostalgic charm of ‘Freaks and Geeks’ with the eerie twists of ‘The Twilight Zone.’ The story centers on Sonny, a well-liked high school student who finds himself in a surreal predicament after surviving a mysterious car accident. He discovers that his mother has been replaced by an impostor, leading him into a puzzling and unsettling journey as he navigates his life through this altered reality and seeks to uncover the truth behind the bizarre substitution.
Paley’s latest notable work is ‘Marcel the Shell with Shoes On,’ a film produced by A24 and directed by Dean Fleischer Camp. He wrote it with Camp and Jenny Slate. The movie follows a struggling documentary filmmaker who decides to focus his latest project on an unusual subject—a charming mollusk shell named Marcel, who resides in an Airbnb rental with his friends. In this inventive mockumentary, Slate lends her voice to Marcel, bringing the character’s endearing quirks and whimsical personality to life.
In addition to his work as a writer, Paley has also worked behind the camera as a director. He has directed multiple episodes of Comedy Central’s ‘Hack Into Broad City,’ a series that delves into the candid and often outrageous video chats between Abbi and Ilana, the inseparable best friends from the popular series ‘Broad City.’ He also directed an episode of ‘Broad City,’ which offers a comedic and sometimes surreal portrayal of two women navigating their daily lives in New York City. The show is known for turning seemingly ordinary moments into sources of both humor and discomfort, capturing the unique essence of its characters’ experiences.
Paley has written and directed several short films, including ‘Open House,’ in which a young man who, upon visiting his grandparents, realizes that they should not be living alone. ‘Andy and Zach’ follows the challenges Andy faces as he adjusts to life without his roommate Zach, who has decided to move out. Moreover, Paley directed ‘Strangers,’ which revolves around the search for a lost child in Central Park.
Britton, a five-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee, recently portrayed Dee Dee in Apple TV+’s drama series ‘Dear Edward,’ Dina in Netflix’s ‘Luckiest Girl Alive,’ and Nicole in the first season of HBO’s acclaimed series ‘The White Lotus.’
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