Ellen Pompeo continues to do business with Hulu and her “Good American Family” collaborator Katie Robbins on the drama pilot “Chicks.”
Variety has confirmed that Mr. Pompeo will star in the pilot alongside Laura Holstein and serve as executive producer under the “Calamity Jane” banner. Robbins will write and executive produce, with 20th Television serving as the studio.
The pilot’s logline describes the film as “a family drama set in the rapidly gentrifying Old Boston area, where estranged half-sisters Chickie (Pompeo) and Doreen are forced to live together after their wise father unexpectedly kicks the bucket. Their only legacy is a legacy of two-bit crime that drives them to increasingly daring deceptions, and as the con men grow, the strange couple’s bond deepens and each begins to feel fulfilled. A father-like hole in someone else’s heart. ”
A person familiar with the project said the original idea was based on a conversation between Pompeo and Robbins on the set of “The Good American Family.”
“Good American Family” is Mr. Pompeo’s first project since he cut back on his role on ABC’s hit medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy.” The show also featured Jay Duplass and Imogen Faith Reid. The film was inspired by real events in Natalia Grace’s life and debuted on Hulu in 2025.
In addition to “The Good American Family,” Robbins created the Apple TV series “Sunny” and worked on the hit Showtime series “The Affair.”
Mr. Pompeo is repped by CAA, Linden Entertainment, The Rede Company and Hansen Jacobson. Robbins is repped by UTA, Aaron Kogan Management and Richter Grossman.
Hulu has been increasing its pilot orders recently, as many streamers have eschewed this practice in favor of direct-to-series orders. Current pilots include Ryan Coogler’s “The X-Files” reboot and “Southern Basterds,” both under the Onyx Collective brand. It was also recently announced that Cooper Hoffman will star in Hulu’s pilot, Durango.
Deadline first reported the pilot order.
