Pop a bottle of Prosecco and get ready to shake your money-maker because Lionsgate is partnering with STX to develop scripted TV series inspired by Jennifer Lopez’s Hustlers and the raunchy 2016 comedy Bad Moms. The plan to put both projects into development is part of a new distribution deal between STXfilms and Lionsgate, the companies announced on Wednesday.
The Hustlers and Bad Moms TV series projects are in the early stages of development, and there is no word if the original cast or crew members will return for the episodic versions of either property.
Released in 2016, Bad Moms stars Mila Kunis (Black Swan, The Spy Who Dumped Me), Kristen Bell (The Good Place, Veronica Mars), and Kathryn Hahn (WandaVision, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery) as three overworked and under-appreciated moms pushed beyond their limits. After succumbing to exhaustion, they ditch their conventional responsibilities for a jolt of long-overdue freedom, fun, and comedic self-indulgence. A sequel, A Bad Moms Christmas, was released in 2017. Both movies were received well by audiences, with the target demographic (overworked and under-appreciated moms) delighting in the franchise’s bold comedic approach and sense of fun. Because both films were R-rated, the Bad Moms series can lean into its crude humor, getting to the heart of what makes motherhood so challenging, rewarding, and maddening.
Meanwhile, director Lorene Scafaria’s crime comedy, Hustlers, earned $157.5+M at the global box office. Led by Jennifer Lopez, with Constance Wu, Julia Stiles, Bardi B, Lizzo, Keke Palmer, and more, the film is inspired by a viral New York Magazine article. Hustlers follows a crew of savvy former strip club employees who band together to turn the tables on their Wall Street clients.
Bad Moms and Hustlers include story elements that could transfer well to the small screen. A mother’s job never ends, and there are plenty of stories to tell from the 24/7 onslaught of motherhood. If the show casts well, I could see a Bad Moms series becoming a major hit for the studio, especially after moms have lived the pandemic life for the past few years.
Would you watch a TV series inspired by Hustlers or Bad Moms? Who would you cast in either project? Let us know in the comments below.