Disney’s Onyx Collective “How To Die Alone” Cast Revealed
Disney’s Onyx Collective is developing a new comedy series called “How To Die Alone”, which follows Melissa, a fat, Black neurotic who’s never been in love. After a comical brush with death, she refuses to settle for anything less than the life she wants, catapulting her on a journey to becoming “100% that bitch” in real life by any means necessary.
The eight-episode, half-hour comedy is being created by ABC Signature and Onyx Collective. It will be released on Hulu in the United States, and it’s likely to be released as a Star Original on Star+ in Latin America and on Disney+ around the world.
Natasha Rothwell (“The White Lotus,” “Insecure”) is going to star, write and co-showrun the series, via her overall deal with ABC Signature and Onyx Collective under the banner of her company, Big Hattie Productions. Natasha Rothwell and Vera Santamaria (“PEN15”) serve as co-showrunners and executive producers. Desiree Akhavan (“The Bisexual”) serves as executive producer.
Deadline has revealed that Conrad Ricamora (How To Get Away With Murder), KeiLyn Durrel Jones (The Other Two) and Jocko Sims (New Amsterdam) have joined the series as regulars. Additionally, Bashir Salahuddin (South Side) will recur throughout the series.
In the new series, Conrad Ricamora will play Rory. Self-involved, boy-crazy, love-starved Rory is Mel’s well-meaning best friend. Rory loves to have a good time at all costs and is blind to his privileges — having been adopted by an über wealthy Upper East Side family. His father, the CEO of JFK, is embarrassed by Rory and his winding path in life. When his JFK crush, a bicoastal bae named Ben, shows interest in him, Rory finds himself experimenting with monogamy for the first time … and holding on for dear life.
KeiLyn Durrel Jones will portray Terrance, an Air Force veteran and one of Melissa’s closest friends, on the tarmac at JFK. Terrance has a thirst for adventure that inspires Melissa. Their chemistry and his sense of humour keep Mel cracking up and hanging out with him on her smoke breaks. Mel is the brightest spot in his day, and he genuinely wants to help chase her dreams, but when he tries to hold her accountable, it sends her running in the opposite direction.
Jocko Sims is playing the role of Alex, Melissa’s current boss and former fling. For Mel, Alex is the one that got away. For Alex, Melissa is the one who unceremoniously sent him packing. Engaged to be married but still working closely with Mel, Alex can’t help but audit what went wrong in their workplace situationship as he gets closer to walking down the aisle with his fiancée Julie.
Bashir Salahuddin is going to be recurring as Brian, Melissa’s holier-than-thou, know-it-all, CPA older brother. Unhappily married with two kids, he resents Melissa for her aimlessness and his mother for depending on him as “man of the house” but still finds himself helping them out, against his better judgment. It’s no wonder he needs a drink or two to help him unwind every night.
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Roger Palmer
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