Hulu Rejects Kim Kardashian and La La Anthony's Comedy Pilot After Two-Year Development
Kim Kardashian and her close friend La La Anthony have faced a significant setback in their television ventures, as their comedy pilot Group Chat has been officially rejected by Hulu. This decision comes after nearly two years of development, marking the end of a project that was highly anticipated by fans of both celebrities.
The Concept and Cast of the Rejected Pilot
The television series was based on La La Anthony's 2014 book, The Love Playbook: Rules for Love, Sex and Happiness. Group Chat centered on five women in their 40s living in Los Angeles, portrayed by Anthony, Yaya DaCosta, Rebecca Rittenhouse, Melanie Liburd, and Stephanie Suganami. The show aimed to explore the raw and messy realities of their lives, which were hidden beneath their polished public personas, all revealed through a private group chat.
Kim Kardashian, aged 45, was set to executive produce and serve as the narrator for the series alongside Anthony, whose birth name is Alani Nicole Vázquez. At a PopViewers' Vibes & Views event in June of last year, Anthony expressed her excitement about the project, stating, "It's going to be so fun and relatable - watching five women navigate life while leaning on their group chat for everything. I'm super excited." She also revealed that the idea originated from a conversation with Kardashian, saying, "Kim and I had always wanted to do something together, but it had to be the right thing. One day I said, 'You've got this deal at Hulu - what are we doing? Let's sell this show.' That's how Group Chat was born."
New Collaboration Announced Despite Setback
Despite the rejection of Group Chat, Kardashian and Anthony are not stepping back from their partnership. Last Friday, Variety reported that the duo will now team up to executive produce an untitled comedy series by Tracy Oliver, which is currently in development at Hulu. The logline for this new project describes it as following "the Bay Area's most sought-after crisis manager for professional athletes" whose life is upended by her husband's scandal, leading her to rely on three close friends as they navigate dating, ambition, motherhood, and the challenges of starting over.
This collaboration builds on a long-standing friendship between Kardashian and Anthony, which dates back to the early 2000s. Representatives for Hulu and Kardashian have been contacted for comment regarding the rejection of Group Chat, but no official statements have been released at this time.
Kardashian's Expanding Television Portfolio
Kim Kardashian continues to be highly active in the television industry, with multiple projects in the pipeline. Last Thursday, she signed on to produce the reality show Team Moms for Paramount+, which explores the world of nationally competitive youth baseball through the Legendary Prep Academy in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Additionally, Kardashian recently wrapped her role in Eva Longoria's upcoming Netflix ensemble comedy The Fifth Wheel, where she plays a "hot outsider" in a story about a Las Vegas weekend reunion for high school besties. The cast also includes Will Ferrell, Nikki Glaser, Brenda Song, Fortune Feimster, and Jack Whitehall.
Other notable projects on Kardashian's agenda include:
- Producing and starring in season eight of her family's Hulu reality spin-off, The Kardashians.
- Executive producing and reprising her role as divorce attorney Allura Grant in the second season of Ryan Murphy's legal drama All's Fair, despite receiving poor reviews for the first season.
- Working on the Hulu reality pilot Calabasas Behind the Gates, Amazon's live-action Bratz film, and an Amazon thriller written by Natalie Krinsky.
This flurry of activity underscores Kardashian's determination to diversify her career beyond reality television, even as she faces occasional setbacks like the rejection of Group Chat.
