Nellie Andreeva

After lengthy negotiations, FX has renewed comedy Wilfred for a third season with a 13-episode order. The pickup was never in doubt, but it took longer than usual as FX had been trying to hammer out a new deal with the series’ showrunner David Zuckerman. (Most FX series have their showrunners locked in for the first two years only). In the end, Zuckerman, who adapted Wilfred for American television and has served as executive producer and showrunner for the first two seasons, closed a pact to continue as an executive producer but opted to step down as showrunner. He will still be involved in the show on a daily basis, likely not full-time.

Wilfred writer/producers Reed Agnew and Eli Jorné, who have been on the show since the beginning, have been upped to executive producers and showrunners for the upcoming season. They had been groomed for the showrunner job by Zuckerman. “As John (Landgraf) said at the summer TCA, it was only a matter of time before we picked up the show, we just had to work some things out,” said FX’s EVP Nick Grad. “David Zuckerman has done an amazing job adapting and reconceiving Wilfred for FX. It was his decision to step down from the Showrunner’s post, but we’re very happy he is going to stay involved with the show. Both we and David have great faith in the ability of Reed and Eli to seamlessly step up and take over the reins. I have no doubt they’ll do a great job.” Writers are expected to convene to begin work on Season 3 sometime this month. 

FX Prods.’ Wilfred, an adaptation of Jason Gann and Adam Zwar’s Australian comedy, stars Elijah Wood and Gann as a guy and his neighbor’s foul-mouthed, pot-smoking dog. Wilfred joins Louie, which was picked up for a fourth season in August. Season 2 of the show averaged 2.63 million Total Viewers and 1.71 million Adults 18-49 per week on a first-run basis. Exec producing Wilfred are Zuckerman, Gann, Agnew, Jorné, Rich Frank, and Jeff Kwatinetz of Prospect Park, Randall Einhorn, and Joe Connor and Ken Connor of Renegade, producers of the Australian version of the series. Einhorn also serves as director. Agnew is with ICM Partners; Jorne and Zuckerman are with UTA.

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