HBO Greenlights Enlightened, From School Of Rock Writer Mike White
About a month ago, wetoldyou that Columbia had picked up a spec script byMike White, actor and writer onSchool of RockandFreaks and Geeks. Now, with White also appearing soon inZombieland(you can see him briefly in the trailer), comes more good news for the guy: HBO has greenlit the pilot for his showEnlightened.
THRreports that the show will re-team White withLaura Dern, who also starred in his directorial effortYear of the Dog. The plot puts Dern as “a self-destructive woman who has a spiritual awakening and becomes determined to live an enlightened life, creating havoc at home and work.” Sounds like a premise that could so easily be mined for both drama and comedy, and a perfect fit for Dern. I don’t think there’s a lot she can’t do, but capturing the spirit of that friend we’ve all had who gets too enamored of their own enlightening experience should be something at which she excels.
After not hearing much from him for a couple years, this is only the latest project for White, who also produced and appears inGentlemen Broncos, is still working on anotherSchool of Rockfilm, and is working with Scott Rudin to adapt Sean Wilsey’s memoirOh the Glory of it All; White wrote and is producing.
White and Dern are both exceptionally talented, and hopefully the show will only add to HBO’s new slate. After a couple of years losing ground to Showtime and AMC, HBO may be on the verge of become a home of great content again. The network hasHungandBored to Death, as well asHow to Make it in America,The Pacificand the upcomingBoardwalk Empire, theTerence Winter / Martin Scorsese showI talked about yesterday.
