Jessica Williams has landed the lead role in upcoming Hulu's upcoming miniseries Four Weddings and a Funeral, an extended remake of the 1994 British film starring Hugh Grant. It's executive produced by Mindy Kaling, who co-wrote the pilot with Matt Warburton (The Simpsons, Kaling's The Mindy Project).
According to Deadline, the comedian/actress who rose to stardom via The Daily Show and her podcast-turned-HBO project 2 Dope Queens will play Jess, a New York senatorial campaign communications director who leaves her life in the states behind to reconnect with old friends in London. Instead of being a two-hour rom-com with a predominantly white cast, this version will be a limited series that emphasizes the international intersections of race and romance. Co-stars include Indian Summer's Nikesh Patel, Mindy Project's Rebecca Rittenhouse, and Search Party star John Reynolds.
Williams' 2 Dope Queens is wildly acclaimed for incorporating guests from different walks of life in order to use comedy to increase empathy and understanding. This led to a quartet of HBO comedy features with Williams and co-host Phoebe Robinson, plus an ensuing tour. Williams is also set to appear in J.K. Rowling's Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald on Nov. 16 as Professor Eulalie “Lally” Hicks.
