ABC links with Jackass’ Knoxville

US broadcast network ABC is developing a semi-autobiographical comedy about the childhood of actor and Jackass star Johnny Knoxville.

The as-yet-untitled project comes after Knoxville and his prodco, Hello Junior!, signed a two-year first-look deal with ABC Studios, the network’s production division, to develop new series.

The comedy is the first project in development between the two companies and Knoxville, who grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, is expected to narrate the series.

Knoxville achieved notoriety in the early noughties as a part of MTV’s prank and stunt comedy series Jackass, which ran for three seasons and spawned a successful feature film franchise.

More recently he appeared in and co-wrote the hidden camera comedy movie Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa and was the voice behind Leonardo in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) feature film.

Earlier this year Knoxville and Hello Junior! signed a two-year first-look film deal with Paramount Pictures, the producer and distributor of the Bad Grandpa and TMNT features.