Mindy Kaling’s (Late Night, The Mindy Project) upcoming Netflix Comedy series inspired by her childhood, has decided on the title, Never Have I Ever. The coming-of-age series also managed to sign tennis icon, John McEnroe to be a part of the show.
The tennis legend has agreed to be the show’s narrator and recently announced his involvement on Late Night With Seth Meyers. He shared that Kaling’s parents were big tennis fans and that they used to watch him play in the past.
“So all of a sudden, I get this call and meet Mindy,” McEnroe recounted. When asked if he would want to be the narrator of the series, he exclaimed, “Are you kidding me?”
Newcomer Maitreyi Ramakrishnan will make her debut as Devi, an overachieving, short tempered high school sophomore who finds constantly gets herself into difficult situations, according to Variety. The series will explore her journey as she navigates her life as a modern first-generation Indian American. Ramakrishnan was selected from 15,000 applicants who responded to the open casting call that Kaling posted online.
Not unlike real life, McEnroe is expected to be Devi’s father’s idol. The renowned player will be adding a sentimental touch to the forthcoming comedy series.
Kaling co-created the series with writer Lang Fisher (The Mindy Project, 30 Rock); the duo will also serve as executive producers and showrunners for the series. Howard Klein, David Miner and Tristam Shapeero will also executive produce the Universal TV series, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
“Netflix approached me about doing a series on young Mindy,” Kaling explained how the series came to be in an interview with Variety. “I wasn’t as interested in telling a period piece about an Indian girl growing up in the ’80s, but I told them I’d love to do a show about a 15 year old Indian girl now.”
Never Have I Ever is a 10 episode series, which is expected to premiere in 2020.