HBO orders tycoon family drama “Succession”

PanARMENIAN.Net - HBO is expanding its drama pilot offerings, The Hollywood Reporter said.

The premium cable network has ordered two family drama pilots: Succession, from Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, and Mogadishu, Minnesota, from Kathryn Bigelow, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Succession follows the saga of a fictional, American global-media family that is not only rich and powerful but also powerfully dysfunctional. The drama will explore family loyalty, international business and the perils of power in the 21st century.

Jesse Armstrong will pen the script and executive produce the project alongside The Big Short's McKay, who will direct the pilot. Ferrell, Kevin Messick and Frank Rich also will exec produce. Armstrong co-created and co-wrote nine seasons of BAFTA-winning U.K. comedy Peep Show. His credits also include Veep, Four Lions and episodes of Black Mirror. McKay is fresh off a best adapted screenplay Oscar win with co-writer Charles Randolph for The Big Short. Rich, meanwhile, is a creative consultant at HBO and exec produces Emmy darling Veep.

The pilot pickup comes as the Redstone family and Viacom continue to battle it out over Sumner Redstone's trust.