YouTube sensation Ray William Johnson is making the leap to TV.
In a competitive situation, FX has given script commitment to a comedy inspired by the life of the Internet star, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively.
Johnson is best known for hosting YouTube series =3, in which he offers snarky commentary on viral videos. The comedian-actor's YouTube channel, where Johnson posts new videos every Tuesday, has amassed 8.7 million subscribers and a whopping 2.3 billion views. The 31-year-old, who was recently featured as part of THR's Comedy Class of 2013, is YouTube's most-subscribed-to-comic on the site, with 50 million views a month.
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Writing duo Mike Gagerman and Andrew Waller will pen the script with Johnson receiving a co-creator credit. 3 Arts' Dave Becky and Troy Zien will exec produce alongside Gagerman and Waller. It's yet to be determined which network -- FX or the upcoming FXX -- would air the project, should it move forward.
Gagerman and Waller's credits include the upcoming feature Road to Nardo, which is going into production with T.J. Miller and Thomas Middleditch attached. are repped by WME, Circle of Confusion and Jackoway Tyerman. Johnson is with WME and 3 Arts.
The project comes as FX is building its comedy brand as it prepares for the September launch of FXX.
Check out a clip of Johnson, below.
Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit
