James R | On 19, Jan 2018

Kristen Wiig has signed on to star in Apple TV’s new comedy series from Reese Witherspoon.

The online giant’s TV arm has only been in business for a few months, but Apple is coming out swinging, swiftly assembling a line-up of talent and projects that is building momentum. Witherspoon is proving a key part of that, with her Hello Sunshine productions now behind three different projects, each one part of the actress’ concerted push to support and showcase female talent and stories.

So far, Hello Sunshine is exec-producing an untitled morning show drama, starring Witherspoon and Jennifer Anniston, and Octavia Spencer vehicle Are You Sleeping. Now, they are joined by another untitled series, which Apple fought hard against other outlets to win.

The 10-episode project marks the tech giant’s first half-hour comedy and is based on Curtis Sittenfeld’s upcoming short story collection You Think It, I’ll Say It. It is created by showrunner Colleen McGuinness (30 Rock), who will exec-produce alongside Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine‘s Lauren Neustadter. It also marks the return of Wiig to the small screen, after jumping from Saturday Night Live to a successful and diverse array of big screen projects.

Apple does not own the show outright and a studio is not yet attached, but with Witherspoon and Wiig attached, it’s only a matter of time until it finds a home.

Apple now has five projects on its slate, including the reboot of Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories anthology and Ron Moore space drama See. THR also reports that Apple is also in a bidding war with HBO for J.J. Abrams’ first script since Fringe. Apple may be late on the scene, but it’s not afraid to act like a player.

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