“Ted Lasso” co-creator Bill Lawrence has landed a series order at Apple for the drama “Bad Monkey” with Vince Vaughn attached to star, Variety has learned.
The series is based on Carl Hiaasen’s 2013 novel of the same name. It tells the story of Andrew Yancy (Vaughn), a one-time detective demoted to restaurant inspector in Southern Florida. A severed arm found by a tourist out fishing pulls Yancy into the world of greed and corruption that decimates the land and environment in both Florida and the Bahamas. And yes, there’s a monkey.
Lawrence is writing the series and will also serve as executive producer under his Doozer Productions banner. Vaughn will executive produce in addition to starring. Doozer’s Jeff Ingold will also executive produce along with Matt Tarses. Doozer’s Liza Katzer will serve as co-executive producer. Warner Bros. Television, where Lawrence is under an overall deal, will produce for Apple.
“Bad Monkey” is now the second series that Lawrence has at Apple. “Ted Lasso” recently debuted its second season at the streamer. The comedy series, which stars Jason Sudeikis in the title role, received 20 Emmy nominations for its first season, making it the most Emmy-nominated freshman comedy series ever. Lawrence is also known for creating the beloved medical comedy “Scrubs” as well as for his work on shows like “Spin City,” “Cougar Town,” and “Clone High.” The last of those shows is currently being rebooted at HBO Max with Lawrence attached as an executive producer.
He is repped by ICM and attorney Jared Levine.
Vaughn has mostly starred in films throughout his career, though he previously starred in the second season of “True Detective” at HBO. He has starred in hit comedy features like “Wedding Crashers,” “Old School,” “Swingers,” and “Dodgeball,” as well as dramas like “Brawl in Cell Block 99,” “Hacksaw Ridge,” “The Cell,” and “Return to Paradise.”
He is repped by WME, Range Media Partners, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.