US series deal for BBC’s This Country

Chelsea Holmes and Sam Straley in Fox’s This Country

British mockumentary This Country is heading into local production in the US, as the Fox network’s first new series commitment for the 2021/22 season.

The show is one of the six pilots from this year’s disrupted pilot season that Fox held over for next season.

The 14×30′ US adaptation hails from writer Jenny Bicks (Sex & the City, The Big C) and director Paul Feig (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, A Simple Favor), with coproduction partners including Lionsgate, BBC Studios’ LA-based production arm, Feigco Entertainment and Fox Entertainment.

The half-hour series will star Chelsea Holmes (At What Cost?) and Sam Straley (The Kids Are Alright) as they deal with small town life in rural America. Seann William Scott, Aya Cash, Taylor Ortega, Krystal Smith and Justin Linville also star.

The Fox show will be executive produced by Bicks, Feig, BBC Studios’ Angie Stephenson as well as Charlie Cooper and Daisy May Cooper, who created the original BBC3 series. The Bafta-winning UK show debuted in 2017.

Feigco’s Dan Magnante will co-executive produce while Cathy Mason and Rachel Mason produce. The project falls under Bicks and Feig’s overall deals with Lionsgate Television, and the coproduction partnership between BBC Studios’ Los Angeles production arm and Lionsgate.

“Fuelled by Jenny and Paul’s imaginative wit and distinct comedic voices, we knew This Country was a special project from the moment we heard their pitch,” said Michael Thorn, Fox Entertainment’s president of entertainment.

“As we curate Fox’s comedy brand, it is important to align ourselves with pedigree talent and dynamic partners with proven track records. In Jenny, Paul, Lionsgate and BBC Studios, we have the perfect team to help us do just that.”

“We’re proud to continue to see the fruits of our powerful collaboration. This Country has all the ingredients to be Fox’s next hit premium docu-comedy,” said BBC Studios MD of international production and formats Matt Forde and Lionsgate Television Group chairman Kevin Beggs in a joint statement.