The Grey’s Anatomy icon is staying in the Hulu family, reuniting with ‘Good American Family’ mastermind Katie Robbins for a gritty, Boston-set sister act.
LOS ANGELES — Ellen Pompeo is trading the sterile halls of Grey Sloan Memorial for a life of petty crime. Hulu has officially given a pilot order to Chicks, a brand-new dark comedy-drama that will see the television powerhouse both star and executive produce.
The project marks an immediate reunion for Pompeo and creator Katie Robbins. The duo recently generated massive streaming numbers with Hulu’s gripping limited series Good American Family, which captivated audiences with its dramatic retelling of the bizarre Natalia Grace adoption saga.
The Con is On: What is ‘Chicks’ About?
Moving far away from medical jargon, Chicks dives headfirst into the gritty, rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods of old Boston. The series introduces us to Chickie (played by Pompeo) and Doreen, two estranged half-sisters who are both struggling to get by.
When their “wise guy” father unexpectedly kicks the bucket, they discover his estate is practically empty—save for a legacy of two-bit criminal operations. Left with no other choice, the mismatched sisters team up to execute a series of increasingly audacious frauds. As their criminal enterprise expands, the ultimate con actually brings them closer together, helping each sister heal the dysfunctional, father-shaped hole left in her heart.
The project is an original concept birthed by Robbins, who reportedly developed the script specifically for Pompeo after the two sparked a strong creative chemistry on the set of Good American Family.
The ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Logistics: Can Meredith Keep Up?
Whenever Pompeo signs onto a shiny new project, the immediate question from TV fans is always the same: What does this mean for Meredith Grey?
Rest easy, scrub fans. While Chicks is designed as a multi-season series if picked up, Pompeo’s involvement won’t trigger a total departure from Grey’s Anatomy.
The Production Compromise:
Pompeo famously dialed back her on-screen presence on the ABC medical drama to free up her calendar for alternative creative avenues. However, she remains the emotional anchor of the show—continuing to serve as an executive producer, providing her iconic voiceover narration for every episode, and popping up for roughly seven on-screen appearances per season.
There is, however, a geographical twist. While Grey’s Anatomy films on the backlots of Los Angeles, production for the Chicks pilot is scheduled to kick off this September in New York City. The late-summer timeline is expected to allow Pompeo to shoot her required Grey’s episodes on the West Coast before heading Back East to step into Chickie’s scamming shoes.
Behind the Scenes
The project is being backed by serious industry muscle. New York-based filming logistics are currently being finalized, with Laura Holstein set to executive produce alongside Robbins and Pompeo under Pompeo’s Calamity Jane production banner. 20th Television is locked in as the studio steering the pilot.
If the pilot impresses Hulu brass, Chicks could easily secure a full series order by early next year, proving that even after two decades as TV’s favorite doctor, Ellen Pompeo is more than ready to show off her bad side.
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