Amazon has ordered two seasons of a new animated comedy from Ramy Youssef. The series is part of a new first-look deal the comedian and his production company, Cairo Cowboy, have made with the streamer, Variety reported.
“Ramy has only scratched the surface of his incredible creative gifts,” said Vernon Sanders, Amazon’s head of global television. “With perfectly measured and heartfelt comedic candor, his work penetrates culture, and we are so fortunate to be working with him and his team. Family comedies have long tackled some of the most uncomfortable and difficult societal topics, but through animation and Ramy’s creative voice, we are so excited to bring this one to audiences.”
The series will follow an early 2000s Muslim-American family as they deal with a turbulent time for Muslims in America. The series is co-created with Pam Brady. Youssef, Brady, and journalist and illustrator, Mona Chalabi, will executive produce. A24 and Amazon Studios will co-produce the series. Cairo Cowboy is led by Youssef and Andy Campagna, the former senior VP of television for Sam Esmail’s Esmail Corp.
“Amazon Studios has committed to making a show with me that I never could have dreamed of getting made, let alone explore for two seasons,” Youssef said. “Anchored by Pam Brady and Mona Chalabi, we’ve brought together a special group of experienced and first-time writers to make something that I hope will be a genuine contribution to the animated space, and television. I’m excited and grateful to explore making more weird shit with Amazon Studios through this partnership, inshallah.”
The new series will not be the first streaming platform to house Youssef’s comedic takes on being Muslim in America. His Hulu show Ramy, which he created and stars in, has two aired seasons and Hulu renewed the show for a third in July 2020. He is also currently working on a Netflix comedy series with his co-star from Ramy, Mohammed “Mo” Amer. While not much is known about the Netflix comedy, Amer will star. HBO also released his standup special, Ramy Youssef: Feelings, in 2019.
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