The untitled series greenlight follows the studio’s freshly inked first-look deal with the Emmy-nominated comedian’s production company, Cairo Cowboy.
Amazon Studios has ordered two seasons of an untitled animated comedy series from co-creator Ramy Youssef.
The show, developed by the Emmy-nominated actor, director, and comedian, and A24, follows a Muslim-American family as they make their way through the tumultuous early aughts: an era marked by anti-Arab sentiment, war in the Middle East… and “the rapid expansion of the boy-band industrial complex.”
The announcement comes as Youssef’s production company, Cairo Cowboy, has closed a first-look deal with Amazon Studios. Cairo Cowboy is co-led by Andy Campagna, former senior vice president of television for Esmail Corp. Under the deal, Youssef will create and produce content that will stream exclusively on Prime Video in over 240 countries and territories around the world.
“Amazon Studios has committed to making a show with me that I never could have dreamed of getting made, let alone explore for two seasons,” Youssef said in a statement. “Anchored by Pam Brady and Mona Chalabi, we’ve brought together a special group of experienced and first-time writers to make something that I hope will be a genuine contribution to the animated space, and television. I’m excited and grateful to explore making more weird shit with Amazon Studios through this partnership, inshallah.”
Vernon Sanders, Amazon Studios’ head of global television, added: “Ramy has only scratched the surface of his incredible creative gifts. With perfectly measured and heartfelt comedic candor, his work penetrates culture, and we are so fortunate to be working with him and his team. Family comedies have long tackled some of the most uncomfortable and difficult societal topics, but through animation and Ramy’s creative voice, we are so excited to bring this one to audiences."
Pam Brady (South Park, Lady Dynamite) is co-creator of the show. She and Youssef will also serve as its executive producers, alongside journalist and illustrator Mona Chalabi, whose work has appeared in The Guardian, The New Yorker, and The New York Times.
Source: Amazon Studios
Max Weinstein is a writer and editor based in Los Angeles. He is the Editor-at-Large of 'Dread Central' and former Editorial Director of 'MovieMaker.' His work has been featured in 'Cineaste,' 'Fangoria,' 'Playboy,' 'Vice,' and 'The Week.'
