EXCLUSIVE: Amazon MGM Studios has bought the pitch for a half-hour private eye comedy, starring former NFL star Marshawn Lynch, from Max Searle (Dave), who will serve as creator-showrunner.
Currently untitled, the show stars Lynch as a version of himself who, in refusing the typical life of a retired athlete, dives into a new career as a Las Vegas private eye — teaming with a tough, veteran female PI in a partnership as unpredictable as the cases they take on.
Luke Dillon and Luke Maxwell will exec produce for 3 Arts Entertainment, alongside Will Arnett and Marc Forman of Electric Avenue, as well as Lynch, Bryon Sheng, and Diaunte Thompson of Beastmode Productions.
Both Lynch and Searle rejoin Amazon here after work on recent projects for the studio. Most recently, Lynch has been seen starring alongside Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson in the Prime Video heist pic The Pickup from Tim Story. He’s also been seen in the cult comedy Bottoms, an MGM title released following Amazon’s acquisition of the studio. Searle, meanwhile, is currently co-showrunning and exec producing a Barbershop TV series for Amazon MGM, based on the MGM movies.
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After 13 seasons in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders, and Seattle Seahawks, in which he won Super Bowl XLVIII and was named to the league’s All-Decade team, Lynch dove headfirst into onscreen work, appearing on shows like The League, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Westworld. The rare recent NFL star to successfully make the Hollywood crossover, he earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Breakthrough Performance for Bottoms and has more recently been seen in Universal’s Love Hurts and 20th/Hulu’s Eenie Meanie, in addition to The Pickup. Recently wrapping a role in Euphoria Season 3, he can currently be seen hosting his ‘N Yo’ City series throughout Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football.
Prior to his work on the new Barbershop TV series, Searle earned his first WGA Award nomination for his work on FX’s Dave, where he was both a writer and co-EP. He teamed with Shea Serrano to create the Netflix series Neon, set in the world of Miami reggaeton, and has also worked on shows like Only Murders in the Building, The Ranch, and Two and a Half Men.
Lynch and Searle are both repped for legal by Ziffren Brittenham. Lynch is also repped by WME; Searle by CAA and 3 Arts Entertainment.