Donald Glover is to create, produce and star in a new comedy set against the backdrop of the Atlanta rap scene.
The show, titled Atlanta, will depict two ambitious cousins and their attempts to succeed through their budding hip-hop careers. Glover, who as well as being an actor raps under the moniker Childish Gambino, will play college drop-out Earnest ‘Earn’ Marks who, as described by Deadline, “sets out to seize the life he imagined for himself when his estranged cousin becomes a sudden star.”
US TV network FX have thus far only ordered a pilot to be made, which will be co-produced by Paul Simms (Girls) and Dianne McGunigle of Schiff Co. As well as his music, Glover his perhaps best known for starring in the sitcom Community and as a writer on hit show 30 Rock.
“Donald Glover is a uniquely talented actor and performer who brings real-life experience to this subject matter,” FX’s Nick Grad told Deadline. “He, along with Paul Simms, has a very honest, sometimes serious, and funny perspective on life, the world of rap music and the city of Atlanta.”
In October, Gambino released a video for his latest single ‘Telegraph Ave’. The piece co-stars the rapper’s rumoured girlfriend, singer Jhene Aiko, and depicts an exotic romantic getaway before a taking a horror movie-like turn in the final minute.