Yahoo Finance FX Orders Limited Series Adaptation of Taffy Brodesser-Akner Novel ‘Fleishman Is in Trouble’
FX has ordered a limited series based on the Taffy Brodesser-Akner novel “Fleishman Is in Trouble.”
Brodesser-Akner will serve as the writer and executive producer on the series, with Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly, and Susannah Grant also executive producing. ABC Signature is the studio, with Timberman-Beverly currently under an overall deal at the studio. FX has ordered nine episodes, which will be available exclusively on FX on Hulu.
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“’Fleishman is in Trouble’ offers an unsparing, modern take on life, love and commitment in Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s terrific debut novel and we are thrilled that she is adapting it as a limited series for FX,” said Gina Balian, president of original programming at FX. “Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly and Susannah Grant join Taffy on the creative team that will work with ABC Signature to capture the energy and edge of this story.”
The story centers on recently separated forty-something Toby Fleishman, who dives into the brave new world of app-based dating with the kind of success he never had dating in his youth, before he got married at the tail-end of medical school. But just at the start of his first summer of sexual freedom, his ex-wife, Rachel, disappears, leaving him with the kids and no hint of where she is or whether she plans to return. As he balances parenting, the return of old friends, a promotion at the hospital that is a long time coming, and all the eligible women that Manhattan has to offer, he realizes that he’ll never be able to figure out what happened to Rachel until he can take a more honest look at what happened to their marriage in the first place.
“I’m thrilled to be extending Fleishman’s life onto the screen with such smart, thoughtful and courageous partners,” said Brodesser-Akner. “When I was writing this book, my aim was to resolve for myself the mystifying dynamics and politics of marriage and middle age. Writing the book didn’t help much, so I’m hoping that making this show does the trick.”
Brodesser-Akner is an author as well as a staff writer at The New York Times Magazine. She has also written for publications like GQ and ESPN the Magazine. This will be her first television writing credit.
“Lisa, Tracy and I fell in love with Taffy’s searing novel and were ecstatic she chose us and our partners at FX as her home,” said Jonnie Davis, president of ABC Signature. “Along with Sarah, Carl and Susannah, we can’t wait for Taffy’s vision for the series to deliver equal water cooler addiction that her book garnered upon debut.”
Brodesser-Akner is repped by ICM and McKuin Frankel Whitehead. Timberman and Beverly are repped by Lenore Entertainment Group. Grant is repped by UTA and Lenore Entertainment Group.
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