Michael J Fox to star in NBC sitcom

Michael J Fox will make his return to series television after signing up to star in a new comedy on NBC.

The as-yet untitled sitcom has received a 22-episode, straight-to-series order from the network, bypassing the usual pilot development process.

Produced by Sony Pictures Television (SPT) and Olive Bridge Entertainment, the show is inspired by people and elements of Fox’s life, in particular drawing on his experiences suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

The single-camera comedy will centre on a husband and father-of-three from New York as he deals with his family, career and other challenges.

Filming will begin this year ahead of a fall 2013 premiere.

The executive producers and co-creators are Will Gluck (Easy A) and Sam Laybourne (Cougar Town), with Gluck attached through his SPT-based Olive Bridge Entertainment label.

Olive Bridge’s Richard Schwartz will co-exec produce, while Gluck will also direct the pilot.

The show marks Fox’s return to NBC, 30 years after he rose to fame on Family Ties. Since then, he has also appeared in comedy series Spin City, Scrubs, Boston Legal, Rescue Me, The Good Wife and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

His film credits include Teen Wolf and the Back to the Future trilogy.

NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt said of Fox’s return to television: “one of the great comedic television stars is coming home again.”

The sitcom is NBC’s latest straight-to-series commitment. Others include vampire drama Dracula, period-set pirate adventure Crossbones, and Hannibal, which explores the early relationship between iconic character Dr Hannibal Lecter and an FBI criminal profiler.