Lucia AnielloandPaul W. Downs, the co-creators ofHacks, are now developing their first project since wrapping the first season of HBO Max’s Emmy-winning hit comedy series. According toDeadline, the show will be calledHot Robotand is a half-hour comedy set in the world of AI development.
Aniello is set to direct the pilot, which will be written byGenevieve Aniello, who won an Emmy for writing onHacksand has written for a range of critically-acclaimed comedies, includingBroad CityandEmily in Paris.Hot Robotwill center around “a jaded young woman whose life is turned upside down when she’s recruited to work on a super-secret AI project by a big brother corporation.” There is no word at this point on what outletHot Robotscould appear on, as Aniello and Downs are currently shopping the project around.
With the upcomingThe Matrix Resurrectionsset to reignite our late-’90s dystopian artificial intelligence paranoia, the intervening decades have seen the birth of social media, the introduction of functioning virtual reality, and the somewhat popular belief that we might actually be living in a simulation (which some people only seem to be half-joking about). The past few years have brought an array of different shows set in the tech industry, ranging from dramatic (Hulu’sDevs) to the kind of half-hour comedy templateHot Robotcould eventually resemble (Amazon Prime’sUpload).
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Our society’s ongoing fascination with all things AI makes something likeHot Robota potentially zeitgeist-defining concept, especially from the minds behind one of thebest shows of 2021.Hacksis an observant and acerbic look at several intersecting issues, from different generations of women and how they see themselves and each other to problematic aspects of the entertainment industry. With the end of HBO’sSilicon Valleyleaving a void when it comes to satiric takes on the tech sector, the team behindHackshas proven that they can provide the smart female perspective thatSilicon Valleywas frequently criticized for mishandling.
There is no information on whenHot Robotwill premiere or where it will eventually land.
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