By now, we’ve seen the breadth of the kinds of stories Netflix wants to tell. It wants something funky, something cool that separates them from the rest of the pack.
And according to the Hollywood Reporter, Alison Brie is set to star in one of these off-the-wall creations. The actress has agreed to headline Netflix’s new wrestler-centric comedy; yes, you read that right, Alison Brie will be reuniting with the Netflix family via glitter and powerslams.
Brie has previously enjoyed an illustrious career with both comedy and drama, as well as television and film. She’s most recognized as her tightly-wound character in the now-defunct Community, but she’s also juggled roles in Mad Men and How to Be Single. Her role(s) in BoJack Horseman have already familiarized her with the Netflix world, and her ability to voice several different characters within that show underlines her strength in finding character’s voices that are completely separate from her own.
The actress will soon be headlining GLOW, which stands for the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. GLOW is based off the professional women’s wrestling program that was syndicated in the 1980s. The new wrestling-centric series was created by Carly Mensch (who previously produced Orange Is The New Black) and Lix Flahive (of Homeland). Kohan and Tara Hermann, also fresh from Orange Is The New Black, will also be serving as producers. The show was greenlit in May and is currently scheduled for 10 episodes.
The story will follow Brie’s character Ruth as she attempts to pick up the pieces of her broken Hollywood dream. But unlike other failed actresses, she finds herself in an unlikely spotlight: a wrestling ring. The show will take place in Los Angeles, and is expected to have many of the quirks and aesthetics of the original ’80s television show it is based on.
The announcement of this new comedy is a breath of fresh air to many. A show that heavily features wrestling, is female-centered, and comes from the geniuses behind OINTB? Looks like a strong contender for Netflix’s comedy scene. And there can be something so comforting about having only ten episodes in a series, relieving us of a mid-season slump, but it does add to the pressure of putting out a unique show. With only ten episodes you may have time to follow through a season-long story as you planned, but it also has the chance to alienate the audience if, say, three of those episodes are subpar.
Whatever this show truly turns out to be, I’d say audiences will be keen to find out. There’s no word yet on writers for GLOW, but we’ll be eager to see who else joins the cast and crew of the sparkliest addition to Netflix’s comedy collection.