Shane Paul McGhie (Poker Face, The Last Shift) and Dasan Frazier (A Different World, Delphi) have been cast as the leads in Issa Rae’s upcoming untitled half-hour comedy pilot for HBO.
Written and executive produced by Rae, the series follows Menzel (McGhie), a 28-year-old barber and aspiring sports manager, and his best friend JB (Frazier), a 27-year-old boxer chasing a professional breakthrough. Set against the competitive boxing scene in Las Vegas, the comedy explores friendship, ambition, loneliness, insecurity and the complicated realities that can come with success.
Prentice Penny, who previously worked with Rae on Insecure, is attached as showrunner, executive producer and pilot director. Jax Clark will executive produce for Hoorae, alongside A Penny For Your Thoughts and Jonathan Berry and Dave Becky of 3 Arts Entertainment.
McGhie has appeared in Poker Face, Abbott Elementary and Grey’s Anatomy, as well as the feature film The Last Shift. Frazier recently starred in Netflix’s A Different World, which has been renewed for Season 2, and is set to appear in Delphi, a Prime Video series connected to Michael B. Jordan’s Creed universe.