Daniel Radcliffehad to leaveHarry Potterbehind,Jennifer Lawrencehad to do the same withThe Hunger Games(and pretty soonX-Men), and now it’s time forJosh Hutchersonto follow suit. The actor, known to most as Peeta in theHunger Gamesfranchise, is heading to Hulu to star in a new original series from comedic duoSeth RogenandEvan Goldberg, the content platform announced today.
Rogen and Goldberg have been working together since the days ofSuperbadandPineapple Express, and an announcement of a new project from them is always a holiday. While the pair are getting ready to release their animated musical comedySausage Party, about food items that come to life in a grocery store, later this year, we learn more about this Hulu project.
TitledFuture Man, the series sees Hutcherson playing a character named Josh Futturman, a janitor at a sexual disease research center called Devlin. Living with his parents, the socially inept, women-phobic man with low self-esteem moonlights as an internationally ranked gamer. His game isCybergeddonand his signature character is named Future Man. After beating the final level, he’s visited by characters from the game who claimCybergeddonwas a training manual. Josh is then tasked with going back in time to help save humanity from an imminent invasion of a super-race.
Kyle HunterandAriel Schaffir, both of whom worked onSausage Party, will pen the script forFuture Man, while Rogen and Goldberg executive produce withJames WeaverandMatt Tolmach. As an added bonus, Rogen and Goldberg will direct the pilot episode, having recently helmed the pilot for the AMC seriesPreacher, which they also co-created.
After finishing upThe Hunger Games, Hutcherson has been working on films likeIn Dubious Battlefor directorJames Franco, and a thirdJourneymovie withDwayne Johnson. Meanwhile, Hulu has found success in original programming likeCasual,Difficult People, and the recently launchedStephen Kingadaptation11.22.63. The platform is getting more high-profile with its upcoming slate that includesThe PathwithAaron Paul. Though it’s still early to pass judgement,Future Manseems to give both Hutcherson and Hulu’s clout a lift.
