Change is coming to streaming site Hulu and its show Difficult People. Recently, transgender actress Shakina Nayfack has been cast as Lola, who, according to The Advocate, was created to clash with Billy Eichner’s character, Billy Epstein.
Series star Julie Klausner, who plays Julie Kessler, tweeted the news on February 25
Nayfack will be playing the role of Lola, a new waitress at D’s Cafe, the same place that Billy works at. She is described as having out there opinions, and when Billy refutes some of them, he ends up getting labeled as transphobic.
“I am thrilled that Julie Klausner and Hulu have created the character of Lola. It is so refreshing to be able to play a trans woman who is funny, confrontational, and just as difficult as everyone else on the show. You’re gonna love Lola because she’s strong and opinionated and crass, not because she’s getting bashed, locked up, or wrestling with coming out,” Nayfack said on her character in The Advocate.
In the same article, Klausner praised Nayfack, saying she wanted her on the show after one meeting. Klausner also said that Nayfack is responsible for most of her character’s dialogue.
Difficult People focuses on Julie Kessler and Billy Epstein (portrayed by Klausner and Eichner, respectively), two struggling comedians and best friends who are living in New York City. The two get into trouble throughout the first season, such as Julie getting in trouble for a tweet she made about Blue Ivy (Jay Z and Beyonce’s daughter) and Billy having family issues and trouble at work, where he does not get along with the owner and one of the his coworkers.
The show’s first season featured many well-known guest stars and recurring cast members, including Seth Meyers in an episode and Gabourey Sidibe as Denise, Billy’s boss at the cafe whom he does not get along with. Other guest stars include Fred Armisen, Kate McKinnon and Kathy Lee Grifford, who guest starred as herself.
The show was renewed for a second season in August 2015, shortly after Hulu began making the episodes available for streaming.
Difficult People was created by Klausner and is co-executive produced by Amy Poehler. The cast will be appearing at PaleyFest on March 18. Season two is expected to be released for streaming sometime later in 2016 and finishes filming this week.