Kal Penn To Star In FX’s “Belated”
FX is developing a brand new half-hour comedy pilot called “Belated” and according to Deadline, Kal Penn is going to be playing the lead male role in the pilot.
Penn will be playing the role of Owen, who is a recently out man in his 40s, and his ex-wife Diana as they attempt to find their new normal and take on new relationships while continuing to co-parent together. The series will also include another plot with an unexpected intergenerational friendship between Owen and Clay, a 17-year-old trans teen.
Owen’s character is described as being intelligent, with a dry wit. He seemed to have life all figured out: he had a great wife and family, a home in a quaint, upscale Connecticut town, and a distinguished job as the head of paediatrics at a top New York City hospital. But a hookup with another man makes Owen reevaluate his sexual orientation and belatedly realize that he is gay. He has to find a way to navigate his new reality – while mending fences with his loved ones – a challenge made all the more daunting thanks to the arrival of Clay who randomly appears on Owen’s front stoop.
“Belated” is being written, directed and executive produced by “Rescue Me” and “The Job” co-creator Peter Tolan. Nick Alford is also going to be an executive producer on the pilot.
Kal Penn only recently came out when he announced he was engaged to his partner of 11 years and Peter Tolan also only came out in his later life. He has previously starred in “Clarice”, “House”, “Designated Survivor”, “Mira, Royal Detective” and the “Harold & Kumar” films.
FX Productions is creating the pilot, so should the series get the go-ahead, we should expect to see the series on Hulu in the United States and as a Star Original on Disney+ in many countries like the UK.