Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Showtime has teamed with director-producer Ken Kwapis for two comedy projects. The comedies are being developed through Kwapis and his producing partner Alexandra Beattie’s company In Cahoots, with Kwapis serving as executive producer and Beattie as co-executive producer. The first project is an untitled dark comedy set in the world of modern advertising, which will be written/executive produced by author and This American Life contributor Shalom Auslander. Auslander’s second novel, Foreskin’s Lament, was optioned by Killer Films; his upcoming third one, Hope: A Tragedy, will be released in January. The second untitled comedy is a provocative look at the relationship of young married couple who decide to explore an open marriage. It is written and executive produced by Sara Goodman (Gossip Girl).

Kwapis directed the pilot for NBC’s long-running comedy The Office and has helmed dozens of episodes of primetime comedy series, including The Office, Malcolm In The Middle and The Bernie Mac Show. He most recently spearheaded NBC’s comedy adaptation of the feature Outsourced. Kwapis segued into features in 2005 with The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants. His latest feature, Working Title/Universal Pictures’ Big Miracle starring Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski, opens Feb. 3. Kwapis and Beattie are repped by UTA and Code Entertainment. Auslander is with Jody Hotchkiss & Assoc.; Goodman with CAA.

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